Category Archives: Songs

Bron~Yr~Aur (312ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, Elixir HD Light, fingerstyle guitar, guitar instrumental, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Line Audio CM4, nick borho, open C6, open tunings, peaceful guitar, physical graffiti, relaxing guitar, sapele tone, Taylor 312ce, Welsh Countryside

Bron-Yr-Aur is probably my favorite Led Zeppelin acoustic song. Written by Jimmy Page about a tranquil cottage in the Welsh countryside, the song is meditative and bucolic; it always puts me in a different place whenever I hear it or play it. This version was recorded on my Taylor 312ce.

Welsh Dragonfly (312ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, dragonfly, Elixir HD Light, fingerstyle guitar, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Line Audio CM4, nick borho, open C6, open tunings, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, sapele tone, Taylor 312ce, taylor grand concert, wales, welsh, Welsh Countryside, welsh dragonfly

Welsh Dragonfly was born one day from ideas improvised after listing to some of Led Zeppelin’s ‘acoustic’ songs. I’ve long liked the story of Page and Plant retreating to a tranquil cottage in the Welsh countryside with acoustic guitars in tow to find inspiration in the bucolic atmosphere and write some new music. As for the ‘dragonfly’ part of the title, I’ve often been inspired by seeing dragonflies hovering around various places over the years, and indeed they’re striking creatures… I’m also a fan of Art Nouveau and reminded of the Tiffany dragonfly lamp design, a touchstone representation that stands out in my mind at the moment. Anyway, this is a song that makes me feel relaxed and peaceful when I play it. Hope you enjoy.

Ohio River Rag (Alt Take)

Songsacoustic blues, acoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, Elixir Polyweb, fingerstyle blues, fingerstyle guitar, guitar instrumental, ksm141, nick borho, ohio river, open G, open tunings, original fingerstyle, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, sapele tone, shure, taylor 310ce

Here is another take of “Ohio River Rag,” which was recorded as part of my Awake Again album project. While revisiting that project and remixing the album (the full album is also available here), I came across some alternate takes of a couple of songs that I thought it would be fun to publish; this is one of those songs. The Awake Again album featured a good mix of both Hawaiian Ki Ho’alu / slack key and traditional acoustic blues influences, though I tend to think of songs like this as more of a blues number.

The Bantry Girl’s Lament (alt take)

Songsacoustic guitar, bantry girls lament, blue sky guitar, celtic guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert

Here is an alternate take of The Bantry Girl’s Lament, a traditional Celtic song which dates back to the early 1800’s. The arrangement is based on Martin Simpson’s version from his fine album “Leaves of Life.” While Martin used a Drop D tuning for the song (or rather its equivalent on Baritone guitar), I play it here in open G6: (D-G-D-G-B-E). To me, this is a peaceful, meditative song that gives pause. Hope you enjoy.

Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór (Taylor 312ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, celtic fingerstyle, celtic guitar, Elixir HD Light, fingerstyle guitar, Line Audio CM4, nick borho, Open D, open tunings, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, sapele tone, Taylor 312ce

Here is another version of my arrangement of Si Bheag, Si Mhor, composed by famous 17th century bard Turlough O’Carolan. While some of my prior recordings of this song were down tempo, this is a more up tempo version with a snappier feel. I think the song works well both ways to be honest, one of the many interesting things about it. Hope you enjoy.

Acacia Improv (K22ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, Hawaiian koa, ki ho’alu, koa taylor, nahenahe, Neumann TLM 103, nick borho, open G, open tunings, original fingerstyle, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, slack key, taro patch, taylor grand concert, Taylor K22ce

Acacia Improv is an outtake of some improvisation done one day while I was recording “Acacia Just Noticed.” That song as well as this short little improv were meant to highlight the koa guitar’s warm low-mid tone with a touch of sparkle in the treble register, to bring out the characteristic warmth and sweetness of the wood. Hope you enjoy.

Acacia Just Noticed (K22ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Hawaiian koa, koa taylor, Line Audio CM4, nick borho, open G, open tunings, original fingerstyle, taylor grand concert, Taylor K22ce

Acacia Just Noticed came to me one day while improvising on my koa guitar. Once aged a little, koa (part of the Acacia family, thus the titular play on words) imparts a warm low-mid tone with a touch of sparkle. Sometimes, depending on how you’re playing, koa can be a little thin and bright, but here I’m playing without a pick and using part of the pads of my fingers to soften things up – especially useful with some of the snappy parts here. Along with that, I feel like the the two sections of this song are played in registers that particularly lend themselves to bringing out warmth and sweetness of koa. The overall combination of these elements melds together in a way that I felt made the wood shine through, thus the nod in the title. Hope you enjoy.

Monsarrat Ave (Kamaka HF-3D)

Songsblue sky guitar, blue sky ukulele, classical ukulele, diamond head, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaiian koa, honolulu hawaii, Honolulu Zoo Fence Art, kaimuki, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, Kamaka Tenor Ukulele, Kapiolani Bandstand, Kapiolani Community College, Kapiolani Park, Leahi, Monsarrat Avenue, nick borho, peaceful ukulele, relaxing ukulele, solo ukulele, Telefunken M60, Waikiki, Waikiki Shell

Here’s a recent recording of “Monsarrat Avenue.” This original solo ukulele piece pays tribute to the mellow vibes of the area around Monsarrat Avenue, which runs near Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head towards Kapiolani Community College. There are so many little things to love on (or just off) Monsarrat: the Honolulu Zoo and its fence with local artists selling their wares, the wafting of music from the Kapiolani Bandstand or the Waikiki Shell, Kapiolani Park itself with the powerful beauty of Leahi, Diamond Head, in the background; nearby is a lovely little district of restaurants and shops. After that, you pass rows of Kaimuki homes with people riding their bikes on quiet side streets as Monsarrat Avenue meanders and changes name to Diamond Head Road; it then passes by Kapiolani Community College – home of a popular (crowded) weekly Farmer’s Market – and curls around the back side of Diamond Head.

After the Solstice (Early Take)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, guitar harmonics, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, original fingerstyle, peaceful guitar, playing a melody with harmonics, relaxing guitar, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert

After the Solstice and its harmonic laden chorus came to me one day after a winter solstice. It’s a quiet, peaceful time of year where the days are gradually getting longer and your mind turns to the hope of a new cycle. (I think it’s also fine for the already long days of summer too though.) Hope you enjoy.

Glass Ball Slack Key (Kamaka HF-3D)

Songsblue sky guitar, chicken in the straw ukulele, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaii, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, ki ho’alu, nick borho, slack key, slack key ukulele, Telefunken M60

Glass Ball Slack Key is a favorite chestnut (or perhaps kukui nut) of uke players in Hawai’i; it’s a fun little ditty that is sure to please aunty or uncle. I learned this song watching and listening to the great Led Ka’apana over the years. A recorded version can be found on the classic Led Live album. Many other ukulele players have covered the song over the years as well. Hope you enjoy.

Nick Borho

Slack Key & Fingerstyle Guitar