Hawaiian Style

K

Kaleo

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Aug 25, 2017
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#1
Aloha Lynn! I'm a drafted beginner bass player for my family.:bassist: In fact, just got my bass last week! YIKES!
I've bought books and watching the heck outa YouTube! But none of those resources have anything on Hawaiian music stylings.
Our music is very simple, 4 to 3 chords. When you have a moment, could you suggest a run for a traditional Hawaiian vamp? In G it would be A7-D7-G. I play a lot of C, which would be D7 - G7 - C. And finally F, which would be G7 - C7 - F. If there are any bass walks that you would recommend, I would truly appreciate.
Mahalo Plenty
Kaleo
 
#2
Kaleo,
Welcome to the world of BASS!
I know almost nothing about that style of music. Some of the bass lines seem similar to other 2-beat half note lines that one would play in country, show tunes, and other things.
I suggest you introduce yourself to the established players in Hawaii and ask them for lessons. Watching experienced players in person and on video and copying what they do (transcribing) is how many of us learned a lot about the music we wanted to play.
A quick YouTube search found these videos.
The first shows a 2-beat style:

The second is a whole concert with many different grooves.

I hope someone that knows this style will contribute to this forum.
 
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#3
Kaleo said:
Aloha Lynn! I'm a drafted beginner bass player for my family.:bassist: In fact, just got my bass last week! YIKES!
I've bought books and watching the heck outa YouTube! But none of those resources have anything on Hawaiian music stylings.
Our music is very simple, 4 to 3 chords. When you have a moment, could you suggest a run for a traditional Hawaiian vamp? In G it would be A7-D7-G. I play a lot of C, which would be D7 - G7 - C. And finally F, which would be G7 - C7 - F. If there are any bass walks that you would recommend, I would truly appreciate.
Mahalo Plenty
Kaleo
Click to expand...
Howz it Kaleo! I hope this helps. Please bear with me. I've done Hawaiian music gigs in the past but would never consider myself a Hawaiian music musician/bass player by any means. I believe different styles/genres of music is like speaking different languages, and you want to try to speak authentically for two reasons.
1) to prevent yourself from sounding stupid haha, and 2) out of respect for the culture, and in our case, also the music. You are right! There isn't a lot of examples on the net. But I think that's a very good thing. Half the lessons on music on the net are crap. I sure as hell wouldn't want people on the net to be teaching the world how to mutilate Hawaiian music. But....if it's credible, then it's all good. I've always admired JJ Ahuna. I recently got turned on to "uncle Charlie". And there was this one bass player who played upright in a group that I listened to at a festival on coconut island last year but I don't recall the name. Anyways, to answer you're question of how to play through these Hawaiian II/V/I changes, I would suggest listening to these people and/or recordings and even searching people out in you're area that really play authentically for tips and pointers. Music is art, paint a picture as opposed to following a how-to step by step instruction manual. I know this is the not the answer you were hoping for, but it's gonna to pay off in the long run.
 
#4
Lynn Seaton said:
Kaleo,
Welcome to the world of BASS!
I know almost nothing about that style of music. Some of the bass lines seem similar to other 2-beat half note lines that one would play in country, show tunes, and other things.
I suggest you introduce yourself to the established players in Hawaii and ask them for lessons. Watching experienced players in person and on video and copying what they do (transcribing) is how many of us learned a lot about the music we wanted to play.
A quick YouTube search found these videos.
The first shows a 2-beat style:

The second is a whole concert with many different grooves.

I hope someone that knows this style will contribute to this forum.
Click to expand...

I agree with with you 100%
 
#5
2luvthebass said:
Howz it Kaleo! I hope this helps. Please bear with me. I've done Hawaiian music gigs in the past but would never consider myself a Hawaiian music musician/bass player by any means. I believe different styles/genres of music is like speaking different languages, and you want to try to speak authentically for two reasons.
1) to prevent yourself from sounding stupid haha, and 2) out of respect for the culture, and in our case, also the music. You are right! There isn't a lot of examples on the net. But I think that's a very good thing. Half the lessons on music on the net are crap. I sure as hell wouldn't want people on the net to be teaching the world how to mutilate Hawaiian music. But....if it's credible, then it's all good. I've always admired JJ Ahuna. I recently got turned on to "uncle Charlie". And there was this one bass player who played upright in a group that I listened to at a festival on coconut island last year but I don't recall the name. Anyways, to answer you're question of how to play through these Hawaiian II/V/I changes, I would suggest listening to these people and/or recordings and even searching people out in you're area that really play authentically for tips and pointers. Music is art, paint a picture as opposed to following a how-to step by step instruction manual. I know this is the not the answer you were hoping for, but it's gonna to pay off in the long run.
Click to expand...
I agree with Lynn Seaton 100%
 
#6
I Pro./Dir. this video in part to showcase the locally iconic and internationally revered Gary Aiko on bass / vocals just for moments like this LOL it can can serve here as a 1/2hr tut re classic Hawaiian style. on the trio's fb page the transition from Gary in the bass chair to Adam Ah Sing 2yrs ago is noted with the increase of Swing drive youth and adrenaline can provide, especially when learning an instrument on the job!
Bobby Ingano Trio
 
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