What is meant by Slack Key Guitar?

Slack-key guitar is a guitar-playing style that originated in the mid-1800s in Hawaii. It is characterized by its distinctive tuning, which involves slackening some of the strings to create a more resonant and mellow sound. The slack-key guitar style is often used to accompany traditional Hawaiian music, such as hula and mele (songs).

Slack-key guitarists typically use a variety of techniques, such as fingerpicking, strumming, and tapping. They also often incorporate slide techniques, such as using a metal slide or bottleneck to create a smooth, legato sound.

The slack-key guitar tradition has been passed down through generations of Hawaiian musicians. Some of the most famous slack-key guitarists include Gabby Pahinui, Cyril Pahinui, and Keola Beamer. Slack-key guitar is also popular among non-Hawaiian musicians, such as Ry Cooder and George Harrison.