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Aloha 'Oe on mountain dulcimer

Dusty Turtle » Videos » Aloha 'Oe on mountain dulcimer

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Duration: 00:01:21
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The fourth of July is my sister's birthday. She lives in Honolulu. For you, Roosie!Aloha 'Oe was written by the last queen of Hawaii, Queen Lili'uokalani (1838-1917). Lili'uokalani was an accomplished composer who played the guitar, piano, ukulele, and zither. In her songs she mixes Hawaiian poetry with the western harmonies she was taught in English-language schools run by missionaries.The fact that I can play this song is a lesson in patience. I picked up the tablature from Tull Glazener when I first began playing the dulcimer about four years ago. But I could not play this song. I couldn't even come close. I just couldn't get my left-hand fingers to scrunch into those little patterns we call chords. So I gave up. Then about three years later I found the tablature when cleaning up one day. I sat down and lo and behold, I could do it! Oh, it wasn't perfect, but what had seemed impossible before was now do-able. I've played the song on and off for the last year, probably varying more and more from the original tab.I am playing a Blue Lion IC tuned CGc.For Tull Glazener's website: http://www.tullglazener.com/ For Tull's masterful version:

For Blue Lion: http://www.bluelioninstruments.com/index.html

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09/17/13 09:25:48PM @dusty:

Hi Karel and thanks for listening.

09/17/13 03:06:51PM @karel-votanek:

Hello Dusty,very nice!

07/11/13 10:56:48AM @guy-babusek:

I love Hawaii, but I agree with Kathaleen... After about 2 weeks I need off the islands. All those imported goods make for a very expensive experience!!! Having said that, I definitely find myself missing the islands if I'm away for too long!

07/10/13 10:46:33PM @dusty:

Thanks, Kathaleen. I would think it would be hard to live anywhere else if you spent any amount of time in Hawaii.

07/02/13 03:26:38PM @dusty:

Thanks for listening, Becky. I was in Hawaii myself in January, ostensibly for work, but really to visit my sister and niece. I fell in love with the combination of slack key guitar and scenery. There is anappropriate parallel betweenthe open, meandering harmonies of that style of guitar playing andthe breezy, open feel of the islands. Even Aloha 'Oe makes me want to fall asleep in a hammock on the beach.

07/02/13 11:59:43AM @dusty:

Thanks, Peter and Ken, for listening and offering such friendly encouragement.

07/02/13 07:48:47AM @ken-hulme:

Nice job Dusty. Pretty darn good for a bunch of scrunched fingers! And the fingerpicking definitely gives the tune a more uke/guitar sound. Mainlanders don't often hear the whole song, just the chorus.

07/02/13 05:21:16AM @peter-w:

Great, Dusty - I've played that on ukulele before, but not yet on mountain dulcimer.

07/01/13 10:24:33PM @dusty:

Why thank you so much, Patty from VA.

07/01/13 09:32:44PM @patty-from-virginia:

Dusty, that is beautiful!!! It reminds me of another tune too.

07/01/13 06:28:52PM @dusty:

Thanks so much, Guy. Your encouragement means a lot.

07/01/13 05:20:51PM @guy-babusek:

That is so fantastic! Very beautifully played. Thank you so much!!!

07/01/13 03:45:38PM @dusty:

Dana and anyone else interested: I've corresponded with Tull about the tablature for this piece. He explained that he only has room for a certain number of pieces in the Free Tab Archive on his website. After that older ones get booted. For the time being--perhaps until he adds it to a book or something--he has given me permission to share the tab with anyone. If you're interested, send me PM with your email address. I don't have the Tabledit files, but I can scan the hard copies I have into pdfs for you.

07/01/13 11:22:05AM @dusty:

Thanks Bill and Mark. Yes, Hawaii probably enjoys half the rainbows seen on earth.

06/30/13 07:48:14PM @dana-r-mccall:

I have several of Tull's tabs that I love. And yes I would love to have it but make sure it is ok with him first. I just saw him a couple of weeks ago but didnt' see tab for this in his box. Thanks And you did great playing it. I've always lliked the melody.

06/30/13 07:29:01PM @dusty:

Dana I couldn't find the tab in Tull's Free Tab Archive, which is where I must have found it four years ago. I just sent him an email, and assuming he responds, I'll ask him about it. With his permission I could scan the tablature and send it to you, but I don't want to do that without his consent. I expect to meet him in October in Los Angeles, so in the worst case scenario I'll ask him about it then.

06/30/13 06:45:37PM @dusty:

Thanks for listening, Dana. The tablature was once available as free tab from Tull's website. (There's a harmony part, too, which perhaps I'll start to work onsoon.) As you may know, Tull puts up a free tab arrangement of a song on a monthly basis in addition to the "workshops" that he sells. Let me search the website and see if I can find it again.

06/30/13 05:36:16PM @dana-r-mccall:

some of it reminds me of How Great thow art. Dusty I couldn't find it in Tull tab on his page where did you find it there?

06/30/13 05:30:59PM @dana-r-mccall:
Beautiful Dusty!!

06/30/13 05:18:14PM @dusty:

Thanks, Karen. Yes, we don't always see our progress, but my experience with this song shows that even if you don't actively work on something, you are still progressing. Over time my fingers grew more and more comfortable until I was finally able to play the song. Maybe in 20 or 25 years I'll be able to fingerpick like Linda Brockinton! (yeah, keep dreamin'!)

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