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.

---

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 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 • Jun. 7, 2023

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 • Jul. 1, 2021

Makana, 39, has been called the master of the slack-key guitar, a fingerstyle genre of playing that is indigenous to Hawaii and older than the blues.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2017

The Hawaiians in Kanahele’s circle, including two real-life slack-key heroes, Ledward Kaapana and Mike Kaawa, jamming on “Waimanalo Blues.”

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2015

The most common tuning is C – so the strings are tuned G, C, E, A – although the slack-key open tunings particular to Hawaiian music are sometimes also used.

From The Guardian • Aug. 17, 2010