- Overview
- For Beginners
- Learn a Style
- Blues Fingerstyle Metal Hawaiian Slack Key Bluegrass Rock Celtic Classical Country Jazz Funk Flamenco Folk R&B and Soul Reggae Brazilian Gospel
- Learn a Skill
- Learn Songs
- Artist Series
- Live Lessons
- Bass Lessons
Hawaiian slack key
Hawaiian slack key is a beautiful style of guitar that originated in Hawaii. By blending relaxing melodies with intricate fingerstyle playing, this traditional genre of music is sure to please.
View Free Lesson View Mark Kailana's Bio
Mark Nelson teaches Hawaiian slack key guitar. He begins with basic concepts such as open tunings. Then, Mark explores the techniques and concepts essential to this beautiful style of music.
Lessons in this Series:
Lesson 1
Intro to Slack Key
Mark Nelson introduces Hawaiian slack key guitar and welcomes you to his lesson series.
Length: 9:11 Difficulty: 0.5 Member Only
Basic Slack Key
Mark delves into the world of slack key guitar. He discusses basic concepts such as open tunings and chords.
Length: 34:24 Difficulty: 1.5 Member Only
Bradda John
In this lesson, Mark teaches a slack key arrangement of the classic song "Brother John."
Length: 14:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Old Style Slack
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful Hawaiian piece that he calls "Old Style Slack."
Length: 30:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Vamps and Turnarounds
Turnarounds are very important to the slack key genre. Mark explains what they are and how they are used in this lesson.
Length: 22:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Salomila
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful Hawaiian slack key piece called "Salomila."
Length: 19:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Double Stops in Slack Key
Mark Nelson demonstrates how double stops are used in Hawaiian slack key guitar.
Length: 22:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Ki Ho'Alu Slide
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful piece of music he calls "Ki Ho'Alu Slide."
Length: 15:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
More Turnarounds
Mark Nelson teaches a few more turnarounds. He demonstrates how you can link two turnarounds together.
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Return to Salomila
Mark Nelson returns to the song "Salomila." Learn an altered version of this song that will put your slack key skills to the test.
Length: 14:30 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Building Blocks
Mark Nelson provides you with more slack key building blocks. He demonstrates some new turnarounds that involve playing double stops in sixths.
Length: 23:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Return to Old Style Slack
Mark Nelson returns to the song "Old Style Slack." In this lesson, he teaches a more advanced arrangement of the song.
Length: 23:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Double Stops and Chords
Mark demonstrates some additional double stops and discusses common slack key chords.
Length: 18:30 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Taropatch Blues
Mark Nelson teaches an original song called "Taropatch Blues." He also explains how improvisation is used in the slack key genre.
Length: 19:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Series Review
Mark Nelson reviews the lesson series up to this point and discusses its future.
Length: 16:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Aunty Style Slack
Mark Nelson introduces the G Wahine tuning, also known as double slack. He teaches a song in this tuning called "Aunty Style Slack."
Length: 21:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Clave Bass Studies
Mark introduces the concept of the clave rhythm. He explains what the clave is and provides some fun Hawaiian themed exercises to play.
Length: 15:56 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Malasadas
Mark Nelson will teaches a slack key piece called "Malasadas." This lesson applies the clave bass pattern from lesson 17.
Length: 14:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Double Stops and Chords
Mark expands your knowledge of double slack tuning. He introduces some common chords and double stops in this tuning.
Length: 13:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Playful Popoki
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful Hawaiian slack key song entitled "Playful Popoki."
Length: 23:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Playful Popoki Part 2
Mark teaches another version of "Playful Popoki."
Length: 25:17 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
C Wahine Tuning
Mark Nelson introduces C Wahine tuning.
Length: 10:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Expanding the Tuning
Mark Nelson expands on Drop C / C Wahine tuning. He explains how familiar chords and double stops can be played in this tuning.
Length: 15:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Hi`ilawe
Mark Nelson teaches a classic Hawaiian slack key piece entitled "Hi`ilawe."
Length: 18:12 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
C Wahine Chords
Mark "Kailana" Nelson covers the Drop C / C Wahine tuning again in this lesson. This time around he introduces more chords and variations.
Length: 10:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Molokai Waltz
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful piece entitled "Molokai Waltz" in this lesson. This song demonstrates how you can play melody out of chord shapes.
Length: 13:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Kowali
Mark Nelson teaches a Hawaiian slack key piece entitled "Kowali" in this lesson.
Length: 13:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Kowali Modulation
Mark Nelson returns to the song "Kowali" and introduces the concept of modulation in this lesson.
Length: 11:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Sanoe
Mark Nelson returns to the world of Hawaiian slack key with a beautiful piece entitled "Sanoe."
Length: 17:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Sanoe Modulation
Mark revisits the beautiful song "Sanoe." He explains how the song modulates in this lesson.
Length: 11:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Catching up & Moving on
Mark Nelson returns with more slack key! Find out what Mark plans to teach in upcoming lessons and learn his approach to fingerpicking technique.
Length: 14:00 Difficulty: 1.0 Member Only
F Wahine Tuning
Mark Nelson explores the wonders of the beautiful F Wahine tuning.
Length: 29:37 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
My Yellow Ginger Lei
Mark Nelson shares his rendition of the beautiful slack key song "My Yellow Ginger Lei."
Length: 14:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Mauna Loa Part 1
Mark Nelson teaches a basic version of the song "Mauna Loa."
Length: 10:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Mauna Loa Part 2
Mark teaches a more elaborate version of "Mauna Loa."
Length: 12:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Kawohikukapulani
Mark Nelson teaches a song called "Kawohikukapulani" and discusses the history behind it.
Length: 9:19 Difficulty: 0.5 Member Only
My Yellow Ginger Lei Variations
Mark Nelson talks about discovering your own style as he plays and improvises "My Yellow Ginger Lei" in F Wahine tuning.
Length: 27:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
He Aloha No'o Honolulu
Mark Nelson shares his rendition of the song "He Aloha No'o Honolulu" in F Wahine tuning.
Length: 11:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
He Aloha No'o Honolulu Part 2
Mark Nelson covers an extended version of "He Aloha No'o Honolulu" and continues to touch on the subject of creating your own style.
Length: 20:17 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Makee Ailana
Mark Nelson shares his beautiful rendition of the song "Makee Ailana" in this lesson.
Length: 22:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Tiare Tahiti
Mark Nelson shares his rendition of "Tiare Tahiti," a lovely song named after the sweet Tahitian Tiare flower.
Length: 20:22 Difficulty: 0.5 Member Only
Tiare Tahiti Part 2
Mark continues his discussion on the song "Tiare Tahiti" in this lesson.
Length: 17:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Series Wrap-up Part 1
Mark Nelson begins his series wrap-up with a lesson about the similarities and differences between tunings. The song "Sanoe" is used as an example.
Length: 12:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Series Wrap-up Part 2
Mark continues his series wrap-up with another great lesson filled with information on tunings.
Length: 21:23 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Series Wrap-up Part 3
Mark Nelson concludes his series wrap-up with a lesson on "My Yellow Ginger Lei" in Taropatch tuning. He also shares tips and advice to continue on your own until he returns to JamPlay with more lessons.
Length: 19:51 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Bring Back the Slack!
Mark Kailana Nelson is back by popular demand with more amazing slack key guitar! In this series reintroduction, he talks about what he will be teaching in his new set of lessons.
Length: 10:27 Difficulty: 1.0 Member Only
Nanea Kou Maka i ka Le‘ale‘a
Mark Nelson continues his Slack Key series with another song called "Nanea Kou Maka i ka Le‘ale‘a." Mark lays out the basics of the song and talks a little about making it your own.
Length: 24:38 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Intros and Outros
Mark Nelson talks about intros and outros using the tune, "Nanea Kou Maka i ka Le‘ale‘a" as an example to work from.
Length: 19:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Member OnlyLesson 49
'Ulupalakua Part 1
Mark Nelson introduces "'Ulupalakua," a song he will be using to teach different skills and techniques. In this lesson, he explains the tune and asks that you get it under your belt before moving on.
Length: 6:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Free Sample Lesson from this Series!
'Ulupalakua Part 2: Singing
Mark Nelson touches on singing and backing up a singer in this lesson. He uses the song "'Ulupalakua" as an example and explains the lyrics.
Length: 25:02 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
'Ulupalakua Part 3: Variations
Mark Nelson demonstrates some fun variations to spice up your playing using the song "Ulupalakua" as an example.
Length: 29:23 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
'Ulupalakua Part 4: Three Songs
Mark Nelson wraps up this tune by demonstrating two similar songs you may play now that you have "Ulupalakua" under your belt.
Length: 8:01 Difficulty: 2.0 Member Only
Hula Blues Part 1
Mark Nelson introduces the catchy "Hula Blues" in this lesson. He asks that you get the song under your belt before moving on to the lessons to follow.
Length: 20:22 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Hula Blues Part 2: Variations
Mark Nelson continues his instruction on the catchy tune "Hula Blues" with some fun variations.
Length: 23:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Hula Blues Part 3: Singing
Mark Nelson continues the "Hula Blues" with a lesson on lyrics and singing. Mark demonstrates some useful tips and tricks to get you going.
Length: 15:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
‘Opihi Mo‘emo‘e Part 1
Mark Nelson introduces a new slack key tune called "‘Opihi Mo‘emo‘e" in this lesson. As usual, Mark starts off by going over each section of the song and asks that you to get it down before moving on.
Length: 23:41 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
‘Opihi Mo‘emo‘e Part 2
Mark Nelson shows off some fun variations for the catchy slack key tune "‘Opihi Mo‘emo‘e." His primary goal for this lesson is to help make this song unique to your personal style.
Length: 13:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
‘Opihi Mo‘emo‘e Part 3
Mark Nelson wraps up the tune "Opihi Mo‘emo‘e" in this lesson, providing full tab and discussing song structure.
Length: 11:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Mark's Slack Key Blues
In this short miniseries wrap-up, Mark Nelson slides into his own version of the blues, slack key style.
Length: 5:00 Difficulty: 0.0 Member Only
B Flat Tuning Part 1
Mark Nelson introduces and explains an open Bb major tuning in this miniseries introduction.
Length: 14:09 Difficulty: 1.0 Member Only
B Flat Tuning Part 2: Green Rose Hula
Mark Nelson goes over a tune called "Green Rose Hula" in the beautiful B flat tuning.
Length: 12:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
B Flat Tuning Part 3: Pua Lilia
In this lesson, Mark Nelson takes a look at more complex harmonies while teaching the beautiful song "Pua Lilia".
Length: 12:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
B Flat Tuning Part 4: ‘Ulupalakua
Mark Nelson wraps up his open Bb tuning miniseries with a look at a song you might recognize from previous lessons, "‘Ulupalakua".
Length: 10:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Enter your email to get freebies, updates and some sweet offers from our company.