Mark's Slack Key Blues (Guitar Lesson)
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Mark's Slack Key Blues
In this short miniseries wrap-up, Mark Nelson slides into his own version of the blues, slack key style.
Taught by Mark Kailana Nelson in Hawaiian slack key seriesLength: 5:00Difficulty: 0.0 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Hawaiian slack key
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsHawaiian 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.
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 Members 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 Members Only
Bradda John
In this lesson, Mark teaches a slack key arrangement of the classic song "Brother John."
Length: 14:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Old Style Slack
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful Hawaiian piece that he calls "Old Style Slack."
Length: 30:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members 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 Members Only
Salomila
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful Hawaiian slack key piece called "Salomila."
Length: 19:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members Only
Double Stops and Chords
Mark demonstrates some additional double stops and discusses common slack key chords.
Length: 18:30 Difficulty: 3.0 Members 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 Members Only
Series Review
Mark Nelson reviews the lesson series up to this point and discusses its future.
Length: 16:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members Only
Playful Popoki
Mark Nelson teaches a beautiful Hawaiian slack key song entitled "Playful Popoki."
Length: 23:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Playful Popoki Part 2
Mark teaches another version of "Playful Popoki."
Length: 25:17 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
C Wahine Tuning
Mark Nelson introduces C Wahine tuning.
Length: 10:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members 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 Members Only
Hi`ilawe
Mark Nelson teaches a classic Hawaiian slack key piece entitled "Hi`ilawe."
Length: 18:12 Difficulty: 3.0 Members 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 Members 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 Members Only
Kowali
Mark Nelson teaches a Hawaiian slack key piece entitled "Kowali" in this lesson.
Length: 13:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members 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 Members Only
Sanoe
Mark Nelson returns to the world of Hawaiian slack key with a beautiful piece entitled "Sanoe."
Length: 17:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Sanoe Modulation
Mark revisits the beautiful song "Sanoe." He explains how the song modulates in this lesson.
Length: 11:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members 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 Members Only
F Wahine Tuning
Mark Nelson explores the wonders of the beautiful F Wahine tuning.
Length: 29:37 Difficulty: 2.0 Members 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 Members Only
Mauna Loa Part 1
Mark Nelson teaches a basic version of the song "Mauna Loa."
Length: 10:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Mauna Loa Part 2
Mark teaches a more elaborate version of "Mauna Loa."
Length: 12:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Kawohikukapulani
Mark Nelson teaches a song called "Kawohikukapulani" and discusses the history behind it.
Length: 9:19 Difficulty: 0.5 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members Only
Makee Ailana
Mark Nelson shares his beautiful rendition of the song "Makee Ailana" in this lesson.
Length: 22:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members 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 Members Only
Tiare Tahiti Part 2
Mark continues his discussion on the song "Tiare Tahiti" in this lesson.
Length: 17:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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
'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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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...
Length: 23:41 Difficulty: 3.0 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members 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 Members Only
About Mark Kailana Nelson
View Full Biography
Ki Ho `alu, or slack key guitar, is a uniquely Hawaiian music. Legend has it that Spanish cowboys hired to teach cattle handling in the 1830's brought the first guitars the Polynesians had seen. Until very recently, slack key
was almost unknown outside of the Islands.
Mark's lifelong interest in slack key led him to write "Learn to Play Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" (Mel Bay Publications), with legendary Hawaiian musician Keola Beamer – the first widely available instruction method for this
gentle art. Keola and Mark co-host the Aloha Music Camp – an immersion into the music and culture of Hawaii held each summer in the Hawaiian Islands.
Mark's 2004 CD, "The Water is Wide," brings together the nahenahe sounds of slack key guitar with the sweet sounds of the dulcimer. In 2006 he released "Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," nineteen classic Hawaiian songs recorded live in the studio. A book of note-for-note transcriptions in Tab and standard notation facilitates learning the songs.. His most recent book and CD set, "Ke Kukima Polinahe," is the first-ever recording of
traditional slack key music arranged for the dulcimer.
Mark began playing guitar and bass professionally at the not-so-tender age of 12. Over the years he's added a number of instruments, including mandolin, `ukulele, bodhran and the Appalachian dulcimer and its European kin.
In the early 1970's Mark was one of a handful of free-spirited musicians who created a whole new vocabulary for the Appalachian dulcimer and guitar. He created a driving flatpicking dulcimer style, playing the instrument
with a force and passion seldom heard before. A first place win at the National Mountain Dulcimer Championships in Winfield, Kansas in 1979 led to appearances at festivals, colleges and coffeehouses across North America
and Europe, and a recording career spanning over 25 years.
He's an engaging performer, artfully weaving stories and humor with heartfelt music to transport the audience. Mark has performed just about everywhere from Barrow to Boston; Sligo to San Diego. He's shared the stage with
performers as diverse as Grover Washington, Jr.; Norton Buffalo; Phoebe Snow, Doc Watson, George Winston and many others. He once worked as a banjo playing gorilla in Dublin, but that's another story...
"Nelson is a musician who possesses that rare combination of insight and talent necessary to successfully transcend conventional concepts of genre and culture."
John Berger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
"Every once in a while a musician comes along who can make an instrument speak in tongues"
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
"Mark Nelson seems to be on to something new and sweet with his marriage of Appalachian dulcimer and Hawaiian slack key guitar. Drizzle is one of the most achingly beautiful slack key numbers heard in years."
Danny Carnahan, Acoustic Guitar Magazine
"It's my sunset-have-a-martini-on-the-lanai soundtrack every night!"
Duke Walls, Hana, Maui
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Nice playing Mark! I like that there is no tab...Hopefully, with a little ear power and what you learned in the "Hula Blues" lessons, you'll all be able to figure out the licks Mark is playing and incorporate the ones you like into your own playing....If you get stuck though, let us know...we're here to help! :)