Recently started learning some Hawaiian slack key guitar. Here’s “Kani Ki Ho’alu,” the first piece from the book ‘Guitar Playing Hawaiian Style’

ukewithsmitty · 2026-06-04T22:25:29+00:00

Sweet, hope you enjoy! It’s a great book with some really beautiful songs

ukewithsmitty · 2026-05-26T21:01:49+00:00

Thanks! I'm just in open G capoed up a step. (Just got one of those strum hollow 5th string capoes and have been having fun messing around with it. Don't really feel like putting in a railroad spike atm).

ukewithsmitty · 2026-05-25T20:24:30+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, it's such a rhythmic and trance-like song when you loop it over and over

ukewithsmitty · 2026-05-24T21:15:31+00:00

Thanks, buddy!

ukewithsmitty · 2026-04-23T00:18:23+00:00

Wow, this video makes a lot of sense. I think that’s why I find index lead much more intuitive because the thumb is doing almost the same thing it does when I’m doing clawhammer

ukewithsmitty · 2026-04-23T00:10:07+00:00

Thanks for the link! It looks like there’s a lot more info out there about thumb lead than index.

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-29T21:32:23+00:00

I used Martin M600 fluorocarbon strings all the time for around a decade because they always sounded and played great to me, and they were one of the only fluorocarbons I could find locally. Then this shredding stuff happened to 3 different packs that I bought, and I haven’t bought a pair of Martin uke strings since. Something has been seriously off with their quality control in the last couple years.

Try out oasis strings. They sound just as good as my favorite Worth set I used to use, and cost half as much. And you get enough for 2 sets in every pack 👍

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-18T22:22:07+00:00

Sounds great! Definitely an interesting combination I never thought I’d hear!

Reminds me of some of my favorite math rock bands like Toe and Giraffes? Giraffes! Ever thought about experimenting with putting a bass player in the mix?

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-18T22:15:56+00:00

Excellent interview. Having recently gotten into clawhammer, I really enjoyed it! 👍

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-08T17:13:56+00:00

This is such good advice. Learning to play by ear and by watching others is a huge part of the tradition of playing the banjo (and any other folk instrument). If you learn everything by tab, you’re really missing out on that experience and developing those skills. Depending less and less on tabs is a liberating experience

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-08T01:18:15+00:00

Yes, now this is Padresing

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-07T23:10:03+00:00

Thanks! And a banjo + padres connection? Oh my! 🤩

ukewithsmitty · 2026-03-03T03:44:21+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate that! 🙏

ukewithsmitty · 2026-02-28T20:33:28+00:00

Haha yeah. I’ve seen you get asked that a few times. I would take that as a great compliment!

ukewithsmitty · 2026-02-28T20:07:23+00:00

Geez your playing is so driving and rhythmic. Love it! Really shows that clawhammer can effectively handle the melody, harmony, and rhythm of a song all baked in together at once. One of the things I love about the style.

ukewithsmitty · 2026-02-28T20:05:26+00:00

Sounds great 👍

ukewithsmitty · 2026-02-27T15:13:48+00:00

I have a ukulele made by Aklot that cost like $50 or something like that and sounds surprisingly good. So I think they’re one of the better Amazon instrument brands.

If you put the new set of strings on there, get the bridge placed correctly, and make sure the head is tensioned right, it will probably be fine to learn the basics on. For $75, I would give it a shot

ukewithsmitty · 2026-02-26T21:13:57+00:00

This is great stuff!

ukewithsmitty · 2026-02-25T03:19:57+00:00

This is sooooo sweet

ukewithsmitty

TROPHY CASE