Tag Archives: slack key

Opihi Moe Moe (Taylor 310ce)

Songsbig island, blue sky guitar, Chet Atkins, Elixir Polyweb, Hawaii, Holualoa, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, kona coffee, ksm141, leonard kwan, nick borho, open G, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, shure, slack key, taro patch, taylor 310ce, Taylor Dreadnaught

Here’s a recently found cover I did of Leonard Kwan’s signature tune, Opihi Moe Moe. One of the most popular songs in the slack key repetoire, this song has been covered perhaps most prominently by Led Kaapana; in fact, Chet Atkins even recorded a version after hearing it from Leonard on a visit to Hawai’i. Notably, Leonard himself recorded several versions of this song including variations such as Opihi Bounce. Opihi Moe Moe is a fun song to play that lends itself to little variations, and everyone seems to bring something different to this deceptively simple song. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded in Holualoa, Hawai’i, 1/4/2008.

Gabby Style Hula Medley

Songsbig island, blue sky guitar, Gabby Pahinui, Hawaii, Holualoa, Hula Medley, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, kona coffee, ksm141, nick borho, peaceful guitar, Pure Gabby, relaxing guitar, shure, slack key, taylor 310ce, Taylor Dreadnaught

Today’s post is a performance of “Hula Medley,” which pays tribute to Gabby Pahinui’s hugely influential recordings of the same name (both the early solo verision, and the version found on Pure Gabby). Many have covered this over the years, with one of my favorite versions appearing on Sonny Chilingworth’s Sonny Solo album. Per below, my recording of the medley here includes a slightly different lineup of songs. Hope you enjoy.

Medley:
Intro / Nani Wale Li’hue
Wai’alae
U’lili E
Aloha ‘Oe

Recorded with a Taylor 310ce (Elixir Polyweb 80/20 Bronze) and a matched stereo pair of Shure KSM141 microphones in Holualoa, Hawai’i, in fall of 2007.

Fronds in the Wind Wai’alae Beach Park in Kahala

Songsblue sky guitar, diamond head, east oahu, Hawaii, kahala, kaimuki, ki ho’alu, nick borho, open G, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, relaxing music, rosewood taylor, slack key, taro patch, Taylor 412ce-R, taylor grand concert, waialae beach park

Here’s a recording of my slack key song Fronds in the Wind at Wai’alae Beach Park in Kahala. Appropriately, it was a windy day, but nice and the park was not super crowded. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded with a Taylor 412ce LTD (Rosewood/Spruce, with Elixir strings, ES1) direct through a Boss DD-2 delay pedal, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Bumble Bee Slack Key

Songsbig island, Fred Kelly, Hawaii, Holualoa, ki ho’alu, kona coffee, ksm141, peaceful guitar music, relaxing guitar, relaxing music, shure, slack key, taro patch, taylor 310ce, Taylor Dreadnaught, thumbpicks, tranquil song

Demo recording of original song Bumble Bee Slack Key, inspired in part by the nalo meli, honey bees buzzing about their business. I wanted a song that was both lively and mellow and think I achieved it. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded in Holualoa, Hawai’i, 12/16/07.

Kailua Bay Blues

Songsbig island, Elixir strings, Fred Kelly, Hawaii, ironman, kailua bay, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, love, peace, peaceful guitar music, relaxing guitar, Shure KSM141, slack key, Taylor 310, taylor 310ce, Taylor 310e, Taylor Dreadnaught guitar, taylor guitars, thumbpicks

Today’s tune from the vaults is a recording of a slack key song I wrote and called “Kailua Bay Blues.” I spent a lot of time as a kid swimming in the waters of historic and majestic Kailua Bay, the waterfront area of ‘downtown’ Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The bay is surrounded by historic residences once occupied by the Hawaiian Monarchy, hotels, restaurants, and usually someone fishing off the seawall. The area also hosts the swim and finish line for the Ironman World Championship triathlon. The waters of Kailua Bay, as well as the sky above, can have many different shades of blue – thus a double meaning for this bluesy slack key song’s title. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, 9/13/07.

Hilo Rag (Dennis Kamakahi)

Songsblue sky guitar, dennis kamakahi, ear trumpet labs, edwina, Hawaii, ki ho’alu, mauna loa tuning, nick borho, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, slack key, sons of hawaii, taylor 414ce-NR, taylor classical guitar, taylor nylon

Hilo Rag is a super fun tune to play from Dennis Kamakahi’s oeuvre. Better known for lyrical songs like Koke’e, Hilo Rag makes me wish I heard more of Dennis’s instrumental work. I was fortunate enough to meet Dennis and son David years ago and see them play, both on stage and in smaller back porch style jam sessions. I remember Dennis dressing sharp in his kind of urban paniolo style, complete with boots and cowboy hat. Like I say, this is such a fun song to play I can never just play it once when I’m running through songs (and will be posting an alternate take on my other channel soon). Hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_lIR5DgUWk

Pualani Slack Key (Demo, 5/16/06)

Songsbig island, Hawaii, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, open G, slack key, taro patch, Taylor 310, taylor 310ce, Taylor 310e

This is a demo of a slack key song I wrote years back called “Pualani Slack Key.” Hope you enjoy.

Recorded in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, 5/16/06.

Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór (Taylor 912ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, celtic guitar, fiddle tunes guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Hawaii, kona, Martin Simpson, O’Carolan songs, open tunings, Pierre Bensusan, relaxing music, slack key, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert, Tony McManus, Turlough O’Carolan

Here is another version of my arrangement of Si Bheag, Si Mhor (Little Fairy, Big Fairy), reportedly the first song composed by famous 17th century bard Turlough O’Carolan. This version was recorded on my 912ce, which I feel is a perfect guitar for this arrangement. Hope you enjoy.

Waimea Ride (Slack Key Improvisation)

Songsbig island, Hawaii, hawaii ranch, Holualoa, kamuela, ki ho’alu, mauka, open g tuning, paniolo, slack key, taro patch, Taylor 310, Taylor 310e, waimea cowboy

Today’s song from the vaults, “Waimea Ride,” is a slack key improvisation that blossoms from a familiar type of descending figure. Though often used as part of a turnaround, this type of walk down has also been featured as a melodic device in a number of songs, most notably Leonard Kwan’s classic signature tune Opihi Moe Moe. I also recall Ozzie Kotani using it in some of his songs. Anyway, I thought the descending figure and overall pace of this improv might evoke the picture of a Paniolo riding downslope on horseback, ergo the title. Hope you enjoy.

Recorded in Holualoa, Hawai’i, 1/11/08.

Mino’aka – Keola Beamer

Songsblue sky guitar, Hawaii, keola beamer, ki ho’alu, nick borho, rosewood taylor, slack key, soliloquy, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert

Mino’aka (Smile) is a short, sweet song from slack key master Keola Beamer’s Soliloquy album. Soliloquy is one of my favorite Dancing Cat era albums from Keola and a highly recommended listen. Keola’s book is one of the first I picked up when I really delved into the slack key style years ago, and this was one of my favorite songs featured in the book. In fact, I also recommend Keola’s book for beginner to intermediate fingerstyle players who are looking to learn some slack key. Although the version I recorded here is at a slightly faster tempo, I hope it still captures the original’s relaxed feel. Hope you enjoy.

Nick Borho

Slack Key & Fingerstyle Guitar