Customer Reviews

DVD-The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar of Ledward Kaapana

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This was the most fun I have had with alternate tuning and the sound of the islands. I really saw Ledward in consert in Colfax, California and got to talk to him. what a wonderfull person. good buy also

This instructive DVD is great for beginning slack-key guitar players provided you already know your way around the instrument and have some experience with finger-picking (Travis or Cotton style). But someone who is new to the guitar is likely to find this DVD too advanced.

All four of the tunes taught are instrumentals. Three feature the most common slack-key tuning, Taro Patch in G (DGDGBD), and one is a Wahine G (DGDF#BD) in which the third string is lowered one-half step allowing some very nice sounding hammer-ons.

The first tune demonstrated, Slack Key Lullaby, features a melody played on the first and third strings against an alternating bass line. Then in the second tune, Ku'u Ipo Onaona, the second string is added to the first and third to play the melody.

Bob Brozman does a very good job as if a student himself, asking Uncle Led the right questions as well as pointing-out slack-key fundamentals and some of the cool ornaments that distinguish Led's style. Written tabs are included, but not needed as long as you're willing to do a lot of rewinding.

This is the real deal. Mahalo to Led, Bob & producer Happy Traum.

Hawaiian born and playing slack key taught to me by immediate family, Ledward Kaapana unselfishly shares secrets of his family playing style. The pace and content of the DVD is detailed and slow moving to allow the viewer to grasp the various techniques. The enclosed tab sheets are "priceless" and serve to refine the exemplified styles. This is pure traditional Hawaiian slack key by one of the best players in Hawaii. Much aloha to Bob Brozman and Led Kaapana for the production of a fine product. As Led says, "Jus' Press".

Led Kaapana is the consummate slack key artist. Priceless!

His willingness to pass on his knowledge is laudable.

Years ago slack key knowledge was jealously guarded.

If you are interested in learning this is the video for you.

If you are ever on Oahu he often plays on Sundays at Kona Brewing in the Koko Marina.

This is an excellent example for tuning and playing the slack key style of guitar. For a beginner it provides a new experience for tuning three of a guitar's strings to "D" and then playing the melodies.