Hawaiian Sounding Guitar

Discussion in 'Performing Arts' started by fruit bat, Aug 12, 2005.

  1. fruit bat

    fruit bat All dumplings are real.

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    In songs like Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow," a lot of Jack Johnson's stuff, and.. hmm.. well most of the songs on the 50 First Dates soundtrack... The guitar is alike.. I think you guys must know what I mean, but Hawaiian sounding guitars..

    So, what I'm wondering is, is it just a spanish/classical guitar to achieve that really cool, soft, mellow sound? Or is it a certain way of playing any acoustic guitar?

    Help? :D
     
  2. Ebene

    Ebene Mountaineer

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    I don't know about Jack Johnson's songs... but are you talking about a Ukulele?
     
  3. Orsino2

    Orsino2 Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Haha... Iz's stuff is played on uke. I also know that on a few songs Jack did with Donovan Frankenreiter, they used ukes. Of course there's all kinds of technical crap like slack key tunings and Hawaiian lap steel. I ended up going to Fredricksburg today, kayaking with my neighbors. Anyway, getting to the point, I managed to find a keychain with a pineapple and "Aloha" beneath it. :D I kept thinking about sending it today, with Keller's DVD... but I not only chargrilled my feet (took my flip flops out of teh car... oh yes, I lovvve the fact that I can now plaster the bastard with bumper stickers. I've been waiting for this moment for years) to the point where I don't think I can manage to walk my ass to the post office... but I flipped the kayak and lost the keychain off of my neck key... thingy... :(. Keller's on his way to the Gathering of the Vibes in New York.

    Anyway, easiest thing that I've done for playing Jack/Iz stuff is... try capoing up a few frets like between five and eight... then just try little techniques like palm muting and just stroking it with your palm (oh, lawd... don't make me go there) really softly... yeah. :rolleyes: :confused: Or you could try picks, etc. Whatever works best for you.
     
  4. Orsino2

    Orsino2 Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Whoa. :D Wyclef Jean. I love him. I kept staring at him and at first glance he looked like Vernon Reid, until I recognized his awesome hair.
     
  5. Conspriacy99X

    Conspriacy99X Banned

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    That would be relaxing to hear that guitar I bet.
     
  6. fruit bat

    fruit bat All dumplings are real.

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    Nooooooo its not uke. It does sound similar though. Do you guys remember in 50 first dates when he sings Forgetful Lucy, and he plays guitar? That kinda sound. :D
     
  7. Orsino2

    Orsino2 Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Yeah... It's like... baritone uke?

    No, because I don't think it was four strings, I think. It looked like a really really short scale parlor guitar.
     
  8. Orsino2

    Orsino2 Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Actually...

    [​IMG]
    I think it's a baritone uke, because it is four strings... but it's a little longer scale than most.
     
  9. soulrebel51

    soulrebel51 i's a folkie.

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    use barre chords and capos at higher frets.
     
  10. Orsino2

    Orsino2 Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Yeah, works just the same. I think I still have my version of Iz's Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World on my computer. I remember using a capo at the fifth fret, but I had some string buzz issues, ended up moving it a fret or two higher, I believe.

    http://www.guitartabs.cc/fetchfile.php?fileid=7779196

    [​IMG]
     
  11. fruit bat

    fruit bat All dumplings are real.

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    :D George he wasn't playing that uke in the scene in that movie. :rolleyes: I distinctly remember a guitarrrrrrrr.......

    However, I've mastered the sound now. Thank yew. :D
     
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