Hawaiian guitar

noun

1. a six-to-eight-string electric guitar, fretted with a piece of metal or bone to produce a whining, glissando sound, played in a horizontal position usually resting on the performer's knees or on a stand, and much used by country music performers.

Hawaiian guitar

noun

1. a lap-held steel-strung guitar with a wood or metal body, tuned to an open chord and played with a slide Compare Dobro pedal steel guitar

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hawaiian guitar¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

It became known as the “Amway of Hawaiian guitar,” encouraging its 200,000-some alumni to buy studios and sell materials themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

As well as the budding pop groups, Ken catered for Hawaiian guitar groups, folk acts, ranting political singers - and anyone else who was prepared to pay £15 to record there.

From BBC

"I just thought, 'Man, I love the sound of a Hawaiian guitar,' and some great old songs have it on it, so I just bought one," he said.

From Fox News

Their mother, a waitress, played the Hawaiian guitar, while their father worked at a Whitewater service station where the radio was tuned to country and western, pop and, on Saturday nights, the WGN “Barn Dance.”

From Washington Times

His father, an accountant and businessman, played Hawaiian guitar and accordion.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• acoustic guitar