slack-key

American  

[slak-kee] / ˈslækˌki /

noun

1. a style of Hawaiian popular music played on an acoustic guitar with strings tuned to notes lower than standard guitar tuning for more bass resonance.

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adjective

1. noting or pertaining to this style of music.

Etymology

Origin of slack-key

First recorded in 1975–80; slack ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “loose, not taut”) + key ¹ ( def. ); translation of Hawaiian kī hō‘alu, equivalent to kī “key” + hō‘alu “slack”

Example Sentences

Hawaiian Music Festival Feel the vibes with this family-friendly outdoor show featuring vocalist Aolani Kaeka-Preuss and Grammy-winning slack-key guitarist Jim “Kimo” West.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2021

This week’s show features director Lynn Shelton, who just completed “Outside In,” a feature film starring Edie Falco and Jay Duplass; Hawaiian slack-key ukelele master Makana, who Burbank first saw while watching in-flight entertainment.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 26, 2017

The Hawaiians in Kanahele’s circle, including two real-life slack-key heroes, Ledward Kaapana and Mike Kaawa, jamming on “Waimanalo Blues.”

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2015

There’s live music most evenings, and more often than not the genre is native to Hawaii — slack-key guitars and ukuleles rule the night.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2013

The most common tuning is C – so the strings are tuned G, C, E, A – although the slack-key open tunings particular to Hawaiian music are sometimes also used.

From The Guardian • Aug. 17, 2010