slack-key

American  

[slak-kee] / ˈslækˌki /

noun

1. a style of Hawaiian popular music played on an acoustic guitar with strings tuned to notes lower than standard guitar tuning for more bass resonance.

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adjective

1. noting or pertaining to this style of music.

Etymology

Origin of slack-key

First recorded in 1975–80; slack ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “loose, not taut”) + key ¹ ( def. ); translation of Hawaiian kī hō‘alu, equivalent to kī “key” + hō‘alu “slack”

Example Sentences

In addition to the ukulele and slack-key guitar virtuosos, many other traditions have returned.

From Seattle Times

In 2012, he released “George Winston: Harmonica Solos,” and in 1983 he created his own label, Dancing Cat Records, to record practitioners of Hawaiian slack-key guitar, a genre he particularly admired.

From New York Times

Hawaiian Music Festival Feel the vibes with this family-friendly outdoor show featuring vocalist Aolani Kaeka-Preuss and Grammy-winning slack-key guitarist Jim “Kimo” West.

From Los Angeles Times

Not long after at a slack-key guitar convention, he met Sunny Chillingworth, who was “Tiny Bubbles” legend Don Ho’s musical director.

From Seattle Times

Slack-key isn’t as well-known as the ukulele of the islands, which has made the art a mission for Makana: “It’s like that image is stuck in the minds of millions of people around the world,” he said of ukulele.

From Seattle Times