Salomila (in D Wahine)

Wahine tunings are a fascinating corner of the slack key world. This old D Wahine tuning turns up on records by Haunani Kahalewai, Ray Kane, Leonard Kwan, and Ozzie Kotani among others.

The tuning is the same as open D, but with the first (highest pitched) string tuned down one half step. The tuning is spelled D-A-D-F#-A-C# from lowest pitch to highest.

I've been sneaking up on this tuning for a number of years but just recently began to catch some of its nuances. In the process I found this arrangement of "Salomila" playing hide and seek in the strings. I've recorded this tune several times, but this new tuning adds another flavor to the mix.

I recorded this session using an Avantone CK-40 large diaphragm stereo mic into an RME UFX and REAPER. The video was shot on two Lumix GH4s and the whole thing was edited in Edius.

[memule]

Soothing and reminding me to be grateful to be here. Thank you for sharing.

[robertq]

It's been a bit since I hit on this tune. Even more beautiful than I remember. Aloha

[bensherman]

Wonderful playing and a fantastic sound from the Martin & Avantone CX-40 combination!

[boesposito]

Good timing Uncle wen I get my uke in hand and I see this. Mahalo for the jam.

[RayForton]

Ahhhh! Always a good day when I find some new slack key from you Fran! I fell in love with F Wahine about 2 years ago.

[redsal]

Very interesting and unusual! Thumbs up!

[PhilTaylorGuitar]

Beautiful music and crystal clear sound and vision - excellent!!

[hochbob]

Exquisitely arranged and played as usual.  Fran, your music sooths the soul.  Thanks for posting.

[joanlashier]

That’s a nice arrangement Fran. I’m enjoying listening to you and Led and I wish I had discovered HA slack key guitar sooner. Such beautiful music!
Joan

[GCUnplugged]

As always, thanks for sharing, and really enjoyed your arrangement. Inspires me to get into my "studio" (e.g. spare berdroom) again! Mahalo!

[NaluRash]

That was very nice. Thanks for posting all the cool videos. I need to record my Papa and I playing someday. He taught me every thing I know from Ukulele to Slack Key. But all the songs he taught were old, lol. I'll share a song that his mother taught him one day. Anyways take care.

[DFlatpicker]

I don't suppose you have tabbed this out yet, have you Fran? If you ever do, I would love to see it. I'm doing my best to learn slack key and I just love what the wahine tunings do to the sound of the guitar. BTW that is a fabulous mic. Great job on the arrangement.

[gordonkistler]

when are you and led going to do some more songs together?