I wrote this original guitar solo, inspired by the channel between Maui and Molokaʻi called “Pailolo”.… Read More
kbeamer.com > Instruction > Advanced Realm > This Lesson This is a famous song both in Hawaiʻi and Japan. It has been featured on the Channel 2 Nightly News in Hawaiʻi for over 40 years. I AM NOT KIDDING. As of this writing in December 2020, they are still playing it! If you are in Hawaiʻi you can check it… Read More
(excerpt coming soon)… Read More
The "mamo" is the safflower or false saffron from Asia. The yellow feather-like flowers were highly prized and loved by Hawaiʻi’s people. This piece is in triple meter with its distinctive waltz feel and contains a modulation (change of key) element within the form.… Read More
This is a wonderful taro-patch solo written by the legendary Slack Key guitarist, Leonard Kwan. ʻOpihi Moemoe became famous as a guitar piece when Chet Akins recorded it back in the day. For many standard tuning players, this piece (and its Open G sound) was their introduction to Slack Key. Check it out! It has a great rhythm and feel.… Read More
Here is my Advanced Solo Slack Key Guitar arrangement of my Mom, Nona Beamerʻs beautiful song and a Hawaiian Classic!… Read More
Keola's good fun, galloping Taro Patch piece with a bended string ending.… Read More
This is Keola's good fun piece written by Keola, where his guitar imitates the sound of a mosquito. Its whimsical, fun and interesting!… Read More
Here are the lesson materials for Keola’s famous song, “Honolulu City Lights”. Because this is rather a special piece and close to heart of the Beamer ‘Ohana, Keola has shared three different audio files for our members, along with the tablature.… Read More
Keola offers guidance to his advanced students.… Read More
In this medley, I pay tribute to the compositional genius of my great-grandmother, Helen Kapuailohia Desha Beamer (1881-1952). She is the musical backbone of the Beamer family. Tuning: Keola's C.… Read More
This popular song is about of an ʻawapuhi (ginger) lei that binds two lovers securely. Royal Hawaiian bandleader Mekia Kealakai is said to have composed the melody in 1893 on a train en route to the Chicago World's Fair. Tuning: Keola's C… Read More
This song, written by Albert Nahaleʻā (Nahale-a), has become a popular Island favorite. You often hear it being dedicated to loved ones over the radio and even at weddings or a baby's lūʻau (dinner party). Tuning: Keola's C.… Read More
In a small Koa church in the small town of Kamuela, Hawaiʻi, my grandfather's voice would carry this song. Up along the pews, reverberating against the windows. Tuning: Keola's C.… Read More
With sincere aloha for the place and composer, I gave this waltz for the Valley Isle by the wonderful O'ahu pianist Bob Nelson a new arrangement for kī hōʻalu. I’ve been a great admirer of Bob's work for a lot of years. It's really well crafted. Tuning: Keola's C… Read More
On this original composition for solo steel string, I play in a variant of a C Major tuning: C-G-C-G-D-E. I draw my inspiration from the sights and sounds of the ocean in winter.… Read More
The song reflects both my love for my wife and a musician's heightened sensitivity to sounds. My wife, Moana, has a small collection of Hawaiian music boxes. As she gets ready for work, she enjoys lifting the lids of the little koa boxes and hearing the music waft through the house. In F Wahine tuning.… Read More
Li'i's Song is performed in the same tuning that Gabby Pahinui used for his signature piece, Hi'ilawe (the song that, for many musicians and historians, launched the modern slack key era in 1946).… Read More
Playing with me on Kalena Kai for the recording “Wooden Boat” is my dear friend and excellent pianist/guitarist George “Keoki” Winston, who plays a wonderful second part. Tuning: Leonard's F.… Read More
I perform this piece on a nylon string acoustic guitar beginning with an original introduction. The lightly diffused hoʻopāpā (harmonics) heard in the middle and at the end delicately evoke the first blush of morning light pushing through the leaves of trees. Tuning: C Old Mauna Loa/Ni'ihau.… Read More
In my arrangement, played solo in a C Wahine tuning on the nylon string, the ghostlike overtones of the dream guitar are very apparent. Tuning: Keola's C.… Read More
Uncle Ray and I used to tour together in the 90’s and we developed a warm friendship. After he passed away, Elodia Kāne (Ray’s Wife) gave me permission to share this piece with my students, so it is used here with permission and with the hope that it helps keep Uncle Ray’s music alive. Tuning: Double Slack.… Read More
From my recording, “Moe ‘Uhane Kīkā - Tales from the Dream Guitar", this original of mine was inspired by the subtly swirling ocean tides of my homeland. This solo steel string guitar composition in F Wahine tuning distinctively displays many of my trademark ornaments. Tuning: Leonard's F.… Read More
This is my sprightly original Hawaiian slack key guitar piece portraying the behavior of the Hawaiian bird (ʻelepaio) believed to be the goddess of canoe makers. Tuning: Keola’s unique F tuning (C-F-C-G-A-F).… Read More