Aloha & Welcome to the Mark-o.com On-line TAB store.

Here you'll find lessons and tablature for slack key guitar, `ukulele and, eventually, Appalachian dulcimer. This is something of an experiment, so book mark the page and check back often.

TABs cost $5.00 ~ some extended lessons will run higher. NEW: FINGERSTYLE `UKULELE TAB. New tab and lessons not found in the book.

All non-original songs are public domain to the best of our knowledge. The TAB is copyrighted ~ unauthorized sharing or publication will result in something very bad happening. Yes, that's an old-fashioned curse.

Please send us an e-mail with comments and suggestions ~ no flames, please, Uji is very sensitive.

Here's how it works: Click on the song name to hear a cheezy MIDI audio file (or MP3 where available). Then click the "Buy Now" Button. When you've completed the purchase, click on the "Return to Merchant" link at the bottom of the PayPal page and you'll be directed to a page where you can download a PDF of the TAB and find links to additional audio files, etc.. If for some reason you don't get the TAB page after you've completed your purchase, send an e-mail and you'll get the PDF as an attachment.

Slack Key Guitar TABs start immediately below; scroll down or click here for `Ukulele TABs

Need help figuring out the level of difficulty? Confused about the tunings? Click here.

Here are a couple free samples to get you started and test the system:

TaroPatch Double Stops

No audio, just a useful page with most of the double stops you'll find in Taropatch (open G) tuning

TAB

Pua Lena

An easy slack key guitar tune in Taropatch (open G) tuning. Level Beg/Int

MIDI File

TAB

Enjoy your TAB!

Want more personalized instruction? Check out Mark's new online video slack key lessons at JamPlay.com.

Slack Key Guitar TAB

New Slack Key TAB - added May 2008
Old Style Slack
It starts out simple, but watch out! This piece is deigned to teach you the twists and tunrs of such classic slack key songs as Punahele, Manini, & Whee Ha Swing. Taropatch. level: Int
Salomila
A classic old song in a fairly easy arrangement. The first time though you play the melody on one string, then you add double stops. Taropatch. Level: Beg.Int
Malasadas
This arrangement of the Portugese folksong uses a syncopated bass derived from Afro-Latin clave rhythms. Double Slack Level: int.
Tiare Tahiti
A solo arrangement of the duet from "learn to Play Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar." F Wahine Level Adv
Papakolea
Also found in the book "Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar." Taropatch Level: Int/Adv
`Ulupalakua
A shorter arrangement of the TAB from "Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar." Not for the timid; you get the melody plus two variations. Taropatch Level: Int/Adv
Ku`u Lei Awapuhi Melemele: Basic Arrangment
An easy arrangement of this slack key standard. Use it to build repertoire or to practice improvisation. Taropatch. Level: Beg
Moloka`i Waltz
A pretty tune in a fairly simple arrangement. Good to practice your bass notes in 3/4 time. Taropatch Level: Beg/Int
Ahe Lau Makani
Queen Lili`uokalani's lovely waltz in a very easy arrangement. Drop C tuning. Level: Beg/Int
Po La`i E (Silent Night)
Get a jumpstart on the Holidays with this easy arrangement in Taropatch tuning. Level Beg/Int
Maunaloa
Another slack key standard. A basic arrangement in the key of F. F Wahine tuning. Level: Beg/Int
Ku`u Ipo
Princess Likelike's lovely song translates as "My Sweetheart." This arrangement will give you practice playing double stops in sixths and thirds. Taropatch Level Beg/Int
Pua Sadinia
A slack key classic! This fairly simple arrangement in Taropatch tuning is a repetoire must-have. Level: Beg/Int
Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua
The lesson includes the melody, lyrics, a basic arrangement and a sample solo. Taropatch tuning. Level: Int
Kowali
A pretty slack key standard. The arrangement starts out in C, then modulates to G and back again. Drop C tuning. Level: Int.
Kaulana Na Pua
A beautiful classic. Taropatch tuning. Level: Int
E Huli Ho`i Mai
A pretty tune in D major tuning. Good introduction to the tuning. Level: Int
Hi`ilawe
The slack key classic! TAB includes the basic vamp, a classic solo, a melody part that can be used as a solo, plus a second solo with a variant melody. Designed to teach typical licks and solos ~ mix and match parts to create your own arrangement. Drop C tuning Level: Int.
Kanaka Waiwai
John Almeida's heartfelt hymn in a nice arrangement. Drop C tuning Level: Int.
Kealoha
Arrangement for two guitars. 1st guitar has melody; 2nd guitar has harmony and counter-melody. Designed to teach you how to back up a song; both parts may be combined to form a single extended arrangement. Taropatch. Level: Int
MP3 file
Hula O Makee
Arrangement for two guitars. 1st guitar has melody; 2nd guitar has harmony and counter-melody. Designed to teach you how to back up a song; both parts may be combined to form a single extended arrangement. Taropatch. Level: Int
MP3 file
Lei Pikake
Mark says he wrote this melody, but it sounds a hundred years old! Here it is in two settings to give you practice playing in different tunings. Two tabs: Taropatch & F Wahine Level: Int
Playful Popoki
Here's another look at mark's original song from the "Learn to Play Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" book. This arrangent uses challenging slurs and modulates a couple of times. Double Slack Level: Int/Adv.
Kimo's Slack Key
Extended arrangement for two guitars. 1st guitar has melody plus a variation; 2nd guitar has harmony and counter-melody. Designed to teach you how to back up a song; both parts may be combined to form a single arrangement. Taropatch. Level: Int/Adv
MP3 file
Sanoe C-D
Queen Lili`uokalani's beautiful love song. Here's the first of two of arrangements to help teach the fine art of modulation. This one moves from C up a whole step to D; an unusal modulation in slack key. Drop C tuning. Level: Int/Adv
Ku`u Lei Awapuhi Melemele
John Keawehawaii's immortal song in a complex arrangement featuring an unusual D9th tuning. Level: Adv.
Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar TAB Book 24 classic songs that should be any everyone's repertoire. These are exact, note for note transcriptions of the recording. All are new arrangements, often in different tunings and with extended intros, solos, bridges and codas. level: int to adv. Now available as a PDF without the CD for $15. (CD available on iTunes). Click here to buy the print version.
Tab from Mark's CD The Water is Wide.

Sanoe C - F
This is the version on Mark's CD that you've asked for. The C to F modulation is more common, but wait until you see how it moves back! Drop C tuning. Level: Int/Adv
Las Blancas Flores
Something different: a 19th Century Californio waltz. This is what the muisc played by the original paniolo sounded like! From "The Water is Wide." C Wahine tuning Level: Int/Adv
The Water is Wide
Here's the title song from Mark's lovely CD. A haunting Scotish/Appalachian ballad that works well for slack key. Some unusual chord voices, but otherwise not too challenging. F Wahine tuning. Level: Int/Adv
Auntie's Christmas Goose
Mark wote this piece after a holiday conversation with Aunty Nona Beamer. Not for the faint of heart - this one's a real workout. Drop C tuning Level: Advanced
The Road to Duke's
A celebration of the twists and turn along the Road to Hana.. Taropatch Level Int/Adv
Drizzle
Mark's original piece was called "One of the most beautiful things ever recorded." by The Fortnightly Music and Media Report in 1986; he rearranged it for slack key guitar for The Water is Wide; and now you can play it, too. G6 tuning Level: Adv
When you've completed the purchase, click on the "Return to Merchant" link at the bottom of the PayPal page to be directed to a page where you can download a PDF. If for some reason you don't get the TAB page after you've completed your purchase, send an e-mail and we'll send you the TAB as an attachment.

Chord Theory and Harmony Lesson for Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
The notes and examples from Mark's popular class at the Aloha Music Camp. All examples in Taropatch. 6 Pages - no audio file. Yours free for reading all the way to the bottom of the page!		 Download Chord Theory PDF

`Ukulele TAB

More TAB to help you in your study of melodic fingerstyle `ukulele. "What's Fingerstyle `Ukulele," you say? Maybe you need Mark's book..

Click on the title to hear a MIDI file, then use the "Add to Cart" button to purchase your TAB. When you've completed the purchase, click on the "Return to Merchant" link at the bottom of the PayPal page to be directed to a page where you can download a PDF. If for some reason you don't get the TAB page after you've completed your purchase, send an e-mail and we'll send you the TAB as an attachment
Ahe Lau Makani
Queen Lili`uokalani's wonderful waltz in a fairly easy arrangement.
Daisy Waltz
You might know it as "A Bicycle Built for Two." It's a fairly simple arrangement to get you started moving up the neck.
Hawaii Aloha
Rev. Lyon's immortal song is sung at the close of every Island gathering. Here's an easy instrumental arrangement.
Kahuli Aku
Aunty Nona Beamer's beloved children's song is great way to get started playing melody! The TAB includes chord diagrams.
Moloka`i Waltz
Another pretty waltz for your growing repertoire. Uses some chords up the neck.
Pua Lililehua
Charming! It's a pretty easy arrangement and a good way to practice melodic fingerstyle playing.
Akahi Hoi & Koni Au i Ka Wai
Two classics from King Kalakaua! These are both quite easy and a great way to add to your fingerstyle repertoire. Two TABs for the price of one!
Kanaka Waiwai
Johnny Almeida's beloved melody in a nice arrangement that will get you moving up the neck a bit.
`Ulupalakua
Here's a pretty easy melodic arrangemnet of the classic paniolo song from Maui
Ulili E
Another fairly simple melodic arrangement of a beatiful song about a Hawaiian seabird.
Hawaiian Turnarounds
No MIDI file. Just a nice collection of Hawaiian vamps for the standard `ukulele keys. Essential! And free, too.		 Download Turnarounds PDF.

About Levels of Difficulty

Setting a level is pretty arbitrary -- and who's to say that these choices reflect reality? Here are some thoughts to give you some idea

  • Beg is beginner. As in "Which way is up? How does my hand work?" So expect fairly basic arrangements, exercises and lessons to learn picking, etc. Handy for getting started, or as a springboard to making your own arrangement.
  • Beg/Int arrangements are fairly basic ~ maybe just the melody with simple harmonies, not much in the way of variations.Good to build repertoire and to learn the ins and outs of the style.
  • Int is where the bulk of 'em will be: Maybe some different hand positions, maybe some tricky picking here and there, but nothing too challenging. Well within the level of most folks who've played for a year or more.
  • Int/Adv adds more syncopation, extended harmony, modulations, etc. You should feel pretty comfortable with slack key or melodic `ukuele stylings to tackle these.
  • Adv is the hard stuff.Or maybe not…

Remember that these levels are only suggestions. You mind find an advanced arrangement to be a piece of cake while something Mark thinks is easy ~ like the way you use your thumb on "Ahe Lau Makani" ~ might be an unexpected challenge. The best way to approach this is to just grab tunes you want to learn and take it slow.

About Slack Key Tunings

Hawaiian Slack Key guitar uses dozens of different tunings ~ though most players tend to favor just a few. Here's a sample of some of the tunings you'll encounter in the TAB. All tunings are given from low to high.

  • Taropatch. D-G-D-G-B-D Maybe the most common tuning. Called "Open G" on the Mainland.
  • Double Slack (G Wahine) D-G-D-F#-B-D. Wahine tunings have a major 7th interval.
  • Drop C C-G-D-G-B-D Sometimes called "Leonard's C" after Leonard Kwan. A wahine tuning.
  • C Wahine C-G-D-G-B-E Also called "Keola's C" after Keola Beamer.
  • F Wahine C-F-C-G-C-E Not all slack key tunings slack the strings, here you raise the 2nd string to C.
  • D Major D-A-D-F#-A-D Similar to Taropatch.
  • D Wahine D-A-D-F#-A-C#
  • D 9th D-A-E-F#-A-D An unusual tuning that allows root-fifth basses on open strings for the tonic and dominant chords.