2015-07-08  |   

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The Taro Patch tuning or ‘G’ Tuning is a favorite of many Slack Key Artists as its timbre and flexibility are remarkable. Taro patch is based on a G Major chord structure. If you are just beginning with us and coming from another guitar style, you might want to begin by:

  • Tuning your guitar to the standard EADGBE.
  • Slack the first string down so that it is the same pitch as the second string, third fret. (This is the note D.)
  • Since the second, third and fourth strings remain in the standard tuning, the next step is to tune the fifth string on octave below the sound of your third string open. (The note G).
  • Tune the sixth string one octave below the sound of your fourth string open. (The note D).
  • Check your tuning by listening to the following Taro Patch Tuning file and comparing it to your guitar’s tuning.


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Taro Patch Tuning Audio

Wow – that’s nice. Play this a bit. Fool around. Congratulate yourself! Can you find the “tonic” G chord or an inversion? (Hint .. 1st string – 5th fret, third string – 4th fret, then sound the guitar from 5th string down)
Taro Patch has a sweet sound. The guitar feels a bit ‘firmer’ than the C Wahine that you just learned and it projects quite beautifully. There is a wonderful trait with the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, that you are beginning to discover. In Western parlance, it is known as ‘sympathetic vibration.’ That is, with the activation of one string, the other surrounding strings vibrate sympathetically. This produces an open sound or resonance that we here in Hawaii call – ‘nahenahe’. It is this beautiful, open and relaxing timbre that for us defines the essence of Slack Key.
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