| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sirduke58 |
Posted - 12/05/2009 : 10:14:20 PM
The Magical Kanikapila Capo
Last Sunday Nov. 29th at our Kanikapila on Red Hill I was looking around at the circle of musicians
in attendance. 2 of them in particular who coincidently were women, namely Carmel & Kendyl(Both are TP members) were both quite often lost when trying to accompany whoever had the lead for a particular song.Both
women are usually only comfortable in Taropatch when slacked in addition to standard tuning.
Normally at kanikapilas, whose ever turn it is to lead announces what key the song will be played in
to help others figure out how they will accompany the lead.
I can totally relate to that lost feeling Carmel & Kendyl felt because I experienced the same thing
when I played at an Abrigo kanikapila at Pizza Bob's in Haleiwa way back when.Songs in the key
of Gmaj & Cmaj were no problem I could stay slacked in Taropatch & Drop C which meant all my
chops in Taropatch & Drop C were available to me to pa'ani or just add a little color... Now here's
the problem.....Song leaders started doing songs in A or F or D or Bb and everthing in between!!!I
got so frustrated & defeated that I gave in and tuned my guitar to "Tight Key" (E-A-D-G-B-E) and I
became a banana rhythm strummer in that muffled standard tuning. Your guitar doesn't resonate
as much in standard as it does in slack.
Now I'm more comfortable accompanying is most keys and all it took is a "Magical Kanikapila
Capo" & sliding back & forth between Taropatch & Drop C. Here are a few examples to help you
along when you're at your next kanikapila............The following are common keys you'll encounter.
Played in key of.................................Tuning....................................Capo fret #
Amaj.................................................Taropatch....................................2nd
Bb.....................................................Taropatch...................................3rd
Cmaj..............(To add color)................Taropatch...................................5th
Dmaj..................................................Drop C.......................................2nd
Dmaj...........(*Possible but junk)...........Taropatch...................................7th
* Junk because it takes away too many frets and shortens your guitar not to mention the sustain
Emaj..................................................Drop C........................................4th
Fmaj...................................................Drop C........................................5th
Note: Any slack C tuning can be used in place of Drop C, however for Drop C only 1 string needs to be
retuned when you slide back & forth between it & Taropatch. The last thing you want to do is spend most of your time at the kanikapila retuning
Simple concept just think of the 1st fret after your capo as the 1st fret when you guitar is not capoed.
Use all the same chord shapes, positions and chops.......Being that until recently I had seldom
played.with other musicians this concept may have been common knowledge to the kanikapila vets
but it's only recently acquired knowledge to me.
Another kanikapila tip I have courtesy of Ozzie Kotani is about the art of accompaniment during
kanikapilas. When another player has a "Pa'ani" you do not want to be in the same position or
neighborhood where the "Pa'ani" is being executed. For instance,if a solo is being played in the 1st
position a conscientious accompanier will play in the 2nd or 3rd position so as not to "Crowd" the
soloist and cloudy up what that person is doing. It also compliments the soloist much better.
Hope all this helps players participate much more often. Being a wallflower at a kanikapila sucks
bigtime compared to being a part of it all............. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| rleach |
Posted - 08/01/2022 : 05:28:56 AM
Duke. Going through some old posts of yours and this is a good one. Thanks for the info. Ron |
| neeej |
Posted - 12/25/2021 : 06:59:23 AM
A close relative to the lowered t-patch is the lowered Drop C (aka Drop Bb). I'm very fond of that'n <G> |
| chunky monkey |
Posted - 12/01/2021 : 7:10:39 PM
I think he told me this once and I've watched him so I'm pretty sure Glen Smith of Ho`okena plays everything they do tuned to Open G. No capo |
| Earl |
Posted - 12/01/2021 : 06:41:13 AM
That's the problem with fiddle, Maliko - no frets. 
I know of a pro singer-songwriter (Peter Case) who only plays in Open G no matter who he plays with -- although he does not call it taro patch. From him In learned to play a lot of songs in G tuning. It takes some effort but it is important to learn at least some chord shapes for several keys in taro patch. I don;t actually play it but can do a credible job of faking on five-string banjo because it is basically tuned to open G.
If you can do I-IV-V chords in several keys, you can cover most songs with rhythm strums or basic finger picking patterns. The licks and turnarounds might be a little more complicated..... |
| Maliko |
Posted - 12/01/2021 : 06:15:41 AM
Sigh, no capo for fiddle. I can tranfer my fingering patterns to different strings to some extent, but Iʻve found it best to bring 2 fiddles, a "g" and an "f". "g" usually tunes standard GDAE, "f" one whole step slacked FCGD. So "f" fiddle in F,C "g" fiddle in G,D,A.
|
| 12toneman |
Posted - 11/30/2021 : 10:05:49 AM
Great thread. Nuggets of wisdom hidden everywhere on TP. Good stuff, @ sirduke58. |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 10:26:36 AM
Gotta weigh in for brada Thumbstruck. He wowed da guyz at the slack key workshop - Uncle Cyril, Uncle Dennis, Ron Kauila and Sonny Lim by playing in Tarpopatch for tunes in C, D & F. Da guy's amazin! We'll be on Oahu from 1/12 - 24. Stay Kailua. Molto jamz!!! |
| Trev |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 02:21:13 AM
Hey Duke - Not only useful for me; it's a useful tip for everyone who plays with other people.
All credit to you for having the presence of mind to think of posting it in the first place! |
| Mika ele |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 4:36:20 PM
Duke,
Mahalo Nui Bra! When I was out of options I borrowed an ukulele at the same kanikapila. I need to play more in Drop C and taropatch. Then I'd be more comfortable at a knaikapila.
Mike
PS: Mahalo for making us newbies feel included -- real Aloha! |
| basilking |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 3:26:52 PM
Besides the capo [xlnt chart!] one might consider "heavying up" the big E if it's often dropped to C or Bb. I use med ga strings but substitute an .059 or .060 for the .056 that comes w/med strings. Less "flap"/more tone on most of my guitars, yet doesn't bother me when tuned to "tight"/ std tuning. I string a coupla guitars w/light ga & use the reserved .056 from med sets to heavy up the .053 that's std w/lights.
I can't take credit for thinking this up myself. Led told me he does this for taropatch/C bass [or "key of L" as I call it for Led & Leonard Kwan]. |
| Peter Medeiros |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 09:46:13 AM
Where's Ed when you need him? |
| sirduke58 |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 09:32:07 AM
Trev said.........
quote:
At the risk of sounding overly pedantic, on your chart up there on the first post, I think you meant to say either that Bb would be on the 3rd fret, rather than the 4th, or that B natural would be on Capo 4.
Hey Trev, I'm glad you found the info useful. Thanks a lot for catching the error on the chart. You're absolutely right that Bb would be Taropatch/Open G capoed at the 3rd fret. I editted the amendment above, can't be passing along inaccurate information. Thanks again Trev. |
| Hookani |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 08:10:02 AM
quote:
The thing with singers is that they can’t get a capo for the throat can they?
Sure they can, it's called tight bibidees.
Ho'okani |
| Trev |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 07:38:58 AM
This is a great tip Duke.
I’ve always played with other people, rather than on my own, and knowing about stuff like this is invaluable. I learnt it the other way round – how to recognise what key people are in if their capo is on ‘5’ for instance.
At the risk of sounding overly pedantic, on your chart up there on the first post, I think you meant to say either that Bb would be on the 3rd fret, rather than the 4th, or that B natural would be on Capo 4.
Great idea to be able to play in all keys! The thing with singers is that they can’t get a capo for the throat can they?
|
| thumbstruck |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 06:31:40 AM
C is playable in Taropatch, just play on the 5th fret. That way you can play D with a low D bass, G, no problem, then C. F chord - play the 3rd fret on the lowest D string, play the middle D string open and play an F chord on the 3 highest strings. It comes out as F6. |
