The Magic of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele

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One of the most memorable events I have attended in my life was recently on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Learning how to play the ukulele is my husband’s current passion, so we were careful not to miss a particular event up in Hanalei town. On our first full day in Kauai, we attended a slack key guitar and ukulele concert, performed by a husband and wife team.

The town of Hanalai. Photo courtesy Geordie Mott

I had no idea what the term “slack” meant in a musical situation. But my oh my, did we ever find out about this style of playing. One can’t know about “slack” without the history that goes with the term. Back in the late 1700s, cattle were introduced on Kauai. It wasn’t long before they were running wild; the Hawaiians didn’t know a thing about raising cattle. Emissaries were sent to find help and eventually Mexican Vaqueros (cowboys) were brought over to Kauai to teach the residents what was needed to know about cattle.

The Mexicans brought guitars and the Hawaiians fell in love with the instruments. When the vaqueros eventually returned to Mexico, they left the guitars for the Hawaiians to enjoy. A problem arose, however, in that the Hawaiians knew nothing about chords and keys and the structure of music. They began to play the guitars, but loosened the strings (hence the term “slack”) until they found sounds that were pleasing to their ears.

There are about 75 known “slack tunings” still heard in Hawaiian music and these musical heirlooms have been passed down in families from generation to generation.

The performers of this gentle, extremely relaxing music we heard are Doug and Sandy McMasters. They have lived on various islands in Hawaii for years and started giving educational concerts 17 years ago. To date, they have performed over 1,800 concerts of slack key guitar and ukulele. Doug is a master at the guitar and composes some of his own tunes. Sandy is the storyteller of the two and plays accompanying ukulele. They area great believers in nature and state that this music has documented their lives.

The concert itself was a study in low-key (no musical pun intended!). Doug and Sandy perform a couple of times a week in very small community center in Hanalei town. About 40-50 folding chairs are set up in the main room and the island breeze flows through the screened-in windows. The light is mostly natural and as they progressed through the first half of the concert, I looked around and caught several attendees falling asleep to the tranquil instrumental music. There is no singing, as slack key guitar and ukulele was used to accompany hula dancing and Hawaiian chant.

During intermission, they sold their impressive collection of CDs and we were treated to refreshments: a tiny cup of water and a single Oreo cookie. The second half of the concert started and Sandy continued to tell the history of the beautiful music, while dictating what Doug should play next. Doug spoke only of various animals and Sandy told about an incident that happened at the beach once when Doug was playing a song called “Sea Turtle Serenade.” He played this particular tune and sure enough, the sea turtles came into view in the water. Apparently that has happened many times. Sandy related when Doug composes, “he is given a song. It comes into his heart and comes out through his hands.”

Eventually, the couple gave out door prizes and wrapped up the afternoon of lovely, historic music. Visitors come to Kauai from all over the world and Sandy ended with this meaningful sentiment: “As long as people hear the songs and hear the stories, they will carry the music in their hearts all over the world.”

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