Slack key guitar ("ki ho'alo" in Hawaiian) is a type of fingerstyle guitar playing that originated in Hawaii, using open tunings -- that is, the guitar strings are tuned so they make a chord when they are all strummed together without fretting. It got its name from the fact that the tuning pegs ("keys") were loosened ("slacked") to bring the strings into the proper pitches for each tuning. The story is that in the old days, each family would have its own special tunings that were jealously guarded from others. Originally the music was used for vocal accompaniment, but now there is a strong tradition of solo performers. Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill and now Dancing Cat records, is a big slack key fan and has put out a series of recordings on Dancing Cat that has done a lot to popularize this wonderful style worldwide.

Anybody who's interested in coming to the Slack Key Guitar Festival in Hilo, let me know.

Happy to contribute to your continuing musical education, Susan!

Aloha,
Mark