Tag Archives: Neumann TLM 102

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.

Here Comes the Sun – Fingerstyle Beatles Cover (Taylor 412ce)

SongsAbbey Road, acoustic guitar, beatles fingerstyle, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, George Harrison, Here Comes the Sun, honolulu hawaii, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, rosewood taylor guitar, Taylor 412ce, taylor grand concert

One of the classic George Harrison songs from the Abbey Road album, Here Comes the Sun is a bright, happy tune that sounds great on acoustic guitar. This is an alternate take of my fingerstyle arrangement of the song. Hope you enjoy.

Keiki Slack Key (412ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Fred Kelly, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, honolulu, keiki slack key, ki ho’alu, love, nahenahe, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open G, open tunings, peace, peaceful guitar, Ray Kane, relaxing guitar, relaxing music, slack key, st louis heights, taro patch, Taylor 412ce-R, taylor grand concert, taylor guitars, thumbpicks, tranquil song

Here is another version of the Ray Kane classic “Keiki Slack Key” I recorded on my Taylor 412ce-R steel string guitar. Keiki Slack Key (not to be confused with the Sonny Chillingworth song of the same name) is one of the first slack key songs I transcribed, and has stayed on my setlists ever since. To me, Ray Kane is probably the best example of an ‘old style’ slack key player, and his tracks are always nahenahe. Hope you enjoy.

Ki Ho’alu (Gabby Pahinui Slack Key Cover, Taylor Nylon Guitar)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, dennis kamakahi, Gabby Pahinui, Hawaii, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, mauna loa tuning, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, Ozzie Kotani, peaceful guitar, Pure Gabby, relaxing guitar, slack key, taylor 414ce-NR, taylor classical guitar, taylor nylon

Here’s an alternate version of my take on Gabby Pahinui’s classic instrumental simply and appropriately titled “Ki Ho’alu,” which of course is the Hawaiian term for “slack key.” I probably first heard this song on the stellar “Pure Gabby” album, although it has appeared on other compilations and been covered by numerous slack key artists, including Ozzie Kotani’s excellent version. My version is inspired by Gabby, Ozzie, and also Dennis Kamakahi who was prolific in the Mauna Loa tuning.

Magic Sands (Original Slack Key, Alt Take)

SongsAlii Drive, big island, blue sky guitar, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, Honl’s, Kahaluu Snorkel Beach, kailua kona, Keauhou Bay, ki ho’alu, kona coffee, La’aloa Beach Park, laaloa, Magic Sands, nahenahe, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, Old Airport Beach Park, open G, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, slack key, taro patch, Taylor 412ce, Taylor 412ce-R, taylor grand concert, White Sands Beach

I used to take a guitar to sit and play some slack key at beaches around Kailua-Kona like Old Airport, Honl’s, Kahalu’u, Keauhou Bay, and La’aloa Beach Park… which is also known locally as White Sands, or Magic Sands. La’aloa Beach Park is just off Ali’i Drive a few miles South of Kailua-Kona. Often known as Magic Sands because the sand ‘disappears’ practically overnight from most of the shoreline during winter swells, only to fully ‘reappear’ in the Summer, the beach is a popular spot for residents of Kona. I often used to head over there with a cup of Kona coffee in the early morning before the crowds arrived, when it was still quiet, and sit on the picnic tables and play guitar. Here is a slack key style tune I wrote one day while hanging out with my guitar around Magic Sands. Hope you enjoy.

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.

Keiki Slack Key (Nylon, Alt Take)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Fred Kelly, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, keiki slack key, ki ho’alu, love, nahenahe, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open G, open tunings, peace, peaceful guitar, Ray Kane, relaxing guitar, relaxing music, slack key, taro patch, taylor 414ce-NR, taylor classical guitar, taylor nylon, thumbpicks, tranquil song

Here is another version of the Ray Kane classic “Keiki Slack Key” I recorded on my Taylor 414ce-NR nylon string guitar. Keiki Slack Key (not to be confused with the Sonny Chillingworth song of the same name) is one of the first slack key songs I transcribed, and has stayed on my setlists ever since. To me, Ray Kane is probably the best example of an ‘old style’ slack key player, and his tracks are always nahenahe. Hope you enjoy.

I’m on Fire (Alt Take, 412ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, born in the usa, Bruce Springsteen, fingerstyle guitar, Hawaii, honolulu, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, Taylor 412ce-R, taylor grand concert

Here’s an alternate take of my arrangement of the Springsteen classic I’m on Fire. This is a really cool little song – almost a sketch at under 3 minutes long, but it really creates a great atmosphere in that short amount of time. Hope you enjoy.

Bantry Girl’s Lament (912ce)

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

The Bantry Girl’s Lament is a traditional Celtic song which dates back to the early 1800’s. The ‘lament’ is for the soldiers who were called off to fight in the Napoleonic wars, but I find the melody is more wistful than maudlin. My fingerstyle version 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.

Recorded with a Taylor 912ce (Rosewood/Spruce, with Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze HD Light strings) and a Neumann TLM 102 microphone.

Meadows Slack Key (912ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, big island, blue sky guitar, Elixir Polyweb, fingerstyle guitar, geckos, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, Holualoa, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, Mamalahoa Highway, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open G, open tunings, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, slack key, taro patch, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert

“Meadows” is a slack key song I wrote during a full moon in Kailua-Kona. I think the song was influenced by the night air and night sounds – the occasional chirp of geckos, the distant sounds of traffic on Mamalahoa Highway and the waves in the ocean. Hope you enjoy.

Nick Borho

Slack Key & Fingerstyle Guitar