Tag Archives: john hardy preamp

Slack Key Number 1 (Taylor 412ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, apogee one, blue sky guitar, dancing cat, Endlessly, fingerstyle guitar, Fred Kelly, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, john hardy preamp, ki ho’alu, love, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open g tuning, open tunings, peace, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, slack key, slack key #1, slack key number one, Sonny Chillingworth, taro patch, Taylor 412ce-R, taylor grand concert, thumbpicks, waimea cowboy

Here is an alternate take of Slack Key No. 1, the classic showpiece of slack key master Sonny Chillingworth. I first heard it on the Dancing Cat release “Endlessly,” and it also appears on his 1964 solo release “Waimea Cowboy.” The Waimea Cowboy version sounds like it was recorded on an electric guitar, while the version on Endlessly was recorded on acoustic guitar. Both versions are very similar, though with some slight differences. I have incorporated elements from both versions in the arrangement I play. Hope you enjoy.

Embryonic Journey (Jorma Kaukonen / Jefferson Airplane)

Songsapogee one, Drop D, ear trumpet labs, edwina, Embryonic Journey, fingerstyle guitar, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, john hardy preamp, Jorma Kaukonen, love, peace, relaxing music, Surrealistic Pillow, Taylor 900 series, Taylor 912ce

From the uber psychedelically titled Surrealistic Pillow album, Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen’s solo fingerpicking tour de force Embryonic Journey highlights his country blues influences and provides a rootsy counterpoint to far out songs like White Rabbit. Though I don’t listen much to the rest of the album, Embryonic Journey stayed on rotation in my car for a number of years – sometimes when I was in the mood I would listen on repeat four or five times in a row. It seems like this song was often playing when I was cutting over from Waialae to cruise on down Kapahulu, stopping for groceries at Kokua Co-op or Down To Earth Moiliili, or hanging out at Kapi’olani Park. Hope you enjoy.

Slack Key #1 by Sonny Chillingworth

Songsacoustic guitar, apogee one, dancing cat, Endlessly, fingerstyle guitar, Hawaii, john hardy preamp, ki ho’alu, Neumann TLM 102, open g tuning, open tunings, slack key #1, slack key number one, Sonny Chillingworth, taro patch, Taylor 412ce-R, waimea cowboy

Slack Key No. 1 is a classic showpiece of slack key master Sonny Chillingworth. I first heard it on the Dancing Cat release “Endlessly,” and it also appears on his 1964 solo release “Waimea Cowboy.” The Waimea Cowboy version sounds like it was recorded on an electric guitar, while the version on Endlessly was recorded on acoustic guitar. Both versions are very similar, though with some slight differences. I have incorporated elements from both versions in the arrangement I play. Hope you enjoy.

Moonglow

Songsapogee one, classical guitar, ear trumpet labs, edwina, john hardy preamp, love, peace, peaceful guitar music, taylor 414ce-NR, taylor classical guitar taylor grand auditorium, taylor nylon guitar

Moonglow is a dreamy fingerstyle song I wrote years ago while sitting outside under a full moon. I’ve played it on and off for years, most always on steel string guitar. Recently I tried it on nylon and found it worked quite well – perhaps even better. Hope you enjoy.

Jonquils of Spring

Songsacoustic guitar, altered tunings, apogee one, Elixir HD Light, fingerstyle guitar, Fred Kelly, john hardy preamp, love, Neumann TLM 102, original fingertyle, peace, peaceful guitar music, relaxing guitar, relaxing music, rosewood taylor, Taylor 900 series, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert, taylor guitars, thumbpicks, tranquil song

An improvised portrait, Jonquils of Spring features a melody outlined with harmonics and played with a slightly wobbly tempo. A cool sunny spring day helped bring out the mood, and relatively fresh set of strings helped bring out the chimes. Hope you enjoy.

Nick Borho

Slack Key & Fingerstyle Guitar