Derek Wille playing some original open tuning guitar songs.

Opening Up

A Wish

Snow

Shnuffy

Porch Swing

Hummingbird

Slack key guitar performance and talk story In anticipation of the Southern California Slack Key Guitar Festival on January 14, 2024 featuring Jim "Kimo" West and Mitch Chang.  Guest Host Mark Phillips.
https://slackkeyfest.com

Show #49 1.9.24 with Jim "Kimo" West & Mitch Chang, Guest Host Mark Phillips: Slack Key Guitar Show

Hawaiian Slack Key guitar composition by Jim "Kimo" West

Echos of Aloha

Kimo's Slack Key

In anticipation of the Slack Key Festival on Sunday, January 19, 2025 in Redondo Beach, CA

Show #101 1.14.2025 Slack Key with Kimo West, Mitch Chang and Kalyn Aolani, Guest Host Dave Stuckey

I Created an original Hawaiian mele in traditional style, inspired by the August 22, 2025, Kilauea eruption, honoring Pele and the lava flow, using vivid imagery of Halemaumau Crater, the fountain of molten rock, and the cultural reverence described in the NPR article. Include traditional Hawaiian poetic elements like kaona (hidden meaning) and nature imagery, suitable for hula accompaniment.

This was a bit of a stretch for me, while I've been teaching people how to play ukulele and slack-key guitar for a couple decades, the language was a bit tricky for me and I had to get some help from an llm. 

The melody is mine, and actually came from a music session with a student!

Mele E Hoʻi ka Pele i Halemaumau

Slack key guitar piece
`Ulupalakua, composer: John Pilani Watkins, 1947.
Arr: Hal Kinnaman

Ulupalakua

Please follow the "buy" link to make a purchase.  Only $1.50 per song!  That's very affordable.  Pay a little extra if you can afford it.   This is my only source of income from songwriting.  Thank you very much!

New tracks tagged #Slack Key Guitar