Mel Bay Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style (Book/CD Set) [Paperback]

Ozzie Kotani (Author), Dennis Ladd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2000

Written by a master of Hawaiian slack-key guitar, this text teaches the history, tunings, and other techniques found in slack-key guitar music. Because of the altered tunings in slack-key guitar music, all of the examples and exercises in this text have been written in tab only. Topics discussed are: right and left hand technique, alternating bass, slides, pull-offs, hammering, harmonics, and other slack-key related topics. Recordings of nine exercises from the book which demonstrates these techniques (with tunings) are provided on an accompanying CD. Beautiful black and white photos of native Hawaiian musicians are scattered throughout the text.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (September 19, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786658932
• ISBN-13: 978-0786658930
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive introduction to learning slack key, February 10, 2003

By 

JavaBarista (Encinitas, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style (Book/CD Set) (Paperback)

This is, quite simply, the best introduction to learning slack key you can find. While there are plenty of other books and resources that pick up where Ozzie leaves off, this book establishes a solid foundation for the others to build on. Each song builds on the skills used in the previous one and Ozzie breaks each song down, measure by measure, to make them easy to learn. The songs are in the old style, very sweet and simple, but don't let that put you off...the more you listen to them (and play them), the more you will fall in love with them. Highly recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent beginners book!, May 20, 2003

By 

GVlog "GV" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style (Book/CD Set) (Paperback)

I bought this book based on the two earlier recommendations and am glad that I did! It's a much better book for beginners than Keola Beamer's (which is more suitable for skilled guitar players). If you're just starting out, use this one. This is Volume 1 of a 3-part series. Volume 2 should be released in 2003.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible for Slack Key Beginners, August 15, 2005

By 

Michael Butler (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mel Bay Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style (Book/CD Set) (Paperback)

From a beginner--
My guitar teacher and other students I spoke with said this is definitely the book to start with. Ozzie takes you through each exercise step by step, so that you learn a little more at each level and it's not too intimidating to start out. I never played a note on any instrument in my life and I'm having FUN. Players experienced with guitar but not with slack key will progress faster but definitely won't be bored.
You don't have to be able to read music--the included C.D. lets you hear the rhythms and what each exercise should sound like, while the fingering is explained in charts in the book.
Best of all, the songs sound GOOD--good enough to listen to the C.D just for enjoyment and good enough that I feel like I'm not just playing finger exercises, I'm playing real music that I like. (The very first exercise is actually part of the title track from Ozzie's C.D. of several years ago "Kani Ki Ho'alu." What a way for a student to feel like they're learning "real" music.) I'd give this one six stars if I could.