Comments on: Play Guitar The Hawaiian Way (Feb, 1940)

By: Toronto

Toronto — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 02:40:32 +0000

Georgene – thanks for adding that information – it’s always interesting to hear about the people being the stories and ads here.

He sounds like an interesting sort who really wanted to help people.

By: Georgene Sstanley Slepin

Georgene Sstanley Slepin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:16:55 +0000

My father, Harry G. Stanley, founded the Honolulu School of Music, the Oahu Publishing Co. and the International Music League. He had regional and national conventions for guitar bands sometimes accomodating 5,000 students with their bands. His national conventions took over Soldiers Field in Chicago and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Stanley started in Michigan in 1926 and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He wanted to make playing easy for children and therefore the numbers system was developed whereby one could play a song within half an hour and then progress into musical careers or pleasant family times. He believed in keeping children off of the streets and was involved in the Cleveland Christian Children’s Home where he supplied music, instruments and teachers. Mr. Stanley was not a musican, but a man with a dream that came true for many children and adults. He had over 400 guitar studios during the 1930′s and 1940′s and published a magazine called “Music”.

By: John Billings

John Billings — Mon, 30 May 2011 22:00:44 +0000

Many of you might enjoy the Steel Guitar Forum. It has a section for “Steel Without Pedals,” that is very informative, and well attended! There are many more courses available now. You’ll fimd links to many wonderful sites, and a lot of wonderful music. Plus tips and advice.
Here tis;
http://www.steelguitarforum.com/

By: Larry Leroy McFall

Larry Leroy McFall — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:48:06 +0000

Still playing the steel guitar after sixty some years I find that few youngsters take it up many of us did in the late 40s and 50s. I guess with the pedal model dominating the scene, many do not want to haul around a truck load of equipment to play a few songs.

The steel playing is still a lot of fun for me and I try to play a few songs everyday. I have laid down my own backing and try to organize a new song every month however, just as soon as I get one organized and the arrangement the way I want it, I seem to forget the ones I had done before.

I guess it all comes with age!

By: Barbara A Berg

Barbara A Berg — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:02:58 +0000

Hi its Barb again, I am still trying to find music by number for my Hawaiin lap steel, I have about 30 sheets of music in number. I am trying to learn notes, but in the mean time would love more music I can play. You can contact me by email Nitroberg@hotmail.com. Would appreciate some info on who could teach Hawaiin guitar here in the State of Washington?

By: Barbara A Berg

Barbara A Berg — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:55:46 +0000

I took lesson when I was 14 on my lap steele guitar, I have music from the Oahu Publishing Co. is there any way I can obtain more sheet music, number only. My instructor in Worcester Ma. was amazing! I only took lessons from him for a year but learned lots. I’ve been playing this past year with my old guitar and amp from the late 50′s, would love to get my hands on more music!

By: John Limbach

John Limbach — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:00:57 +0000

I would like to acquire the Oahu Advanced Harmony Note Course PT series. Either complete or numbers 10 thru 67.

If you have some you’d like to part with, contact me at

john@bigskyaero.com

Thanks,

John Limbach

By: chris cornett

chris cornett — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:19:50 +0000

I have an Oahu solid body electric six string single pickup guitar. 1-19656. Can anyone tell me anything about it? chris cornett

By: Larry Leroy McFall

Larry Leroy McFall — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:18:07 +0000

As many youngsters of the day, I also took Electric Steel Guitar lessons using the Sheet Music from the Oahu Publishing Company. I started lesson in and around 1947 when I was around 7 or 8 years old. My dad had been in the Navy during WWII and of course, spent much time in Hawaii and become a lover of Hawaiin Music ( Who’s not!). Dad bought my a Montgomery Wards outfit and with that and his desire to hear me play Hawaiin music, I learned from the “Oahu Music Influence”.

I still play and resist getting hooked up with the pedal for I am affraid that I wouldn’t go back to the 6 string unmotorized bare back model. However, I did build my own 6 string double neck with legs and I like tuning one to E7 and the other to C6.

I would like to have my ole Oahu Publishing Company Music Sheets today for it was a joy to just have them close. But as many good things, they are long lost loves that if I new where to get a few, I would love to purchase them. Especially the Oahu E7 Lesson Series.

Larry L.

By: Kirk Smith

Kirk Smith — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:06:44 +0000

I have 59 of the Oahu Advanced Harmony Note Course P.T. Series books. I could part with them if I knew what was reasonable.

By: John Miles

John Miles — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:08:48 +0000

Linda K.,
You do not need a new amp, but you MUST get your old one serviced. There are parts that go bad (capacitors) that NEED to be replaced. Not expensive. I don’t know where you live, but if you ask at a music store for the phone number of a good amp tech, you should get your amp to him. If one of these parts fails completely, it can very easily destroy your fine old amp. I have an Oahu amp that has been serviced, and it’s wonderful!
jmiles.

By: Harold Masten

Harold Masten — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:53:41 +0000

To Dan I could help you with the Oahu lessons I have most of them maby I can copy some of the to get you started

By: Daniel Manring

Daniel Manring — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:22:54 +0000

I learned to play hawaiian guitar by the Oahu method in about 1947. I would like to get copies of the lessons or the music used for the lessons if someone still has copies of them. I would be willing to pay a reasonable price for same.

Thank you

Dan

By: Harold Masten

Harold Masten — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:11:42 +0000

I am 81 years old and recently I started to play my steel guitar from the OAHU guitar course I studied back in the late 40′s I am suprised at how much I remember. It’s a lot of fun, I’m glad I saved the lessons.

By: Rod Whitlock

Rod Whitlock — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:35:05 +0000

I have an old Oahu “Parlor” square neck guitar that needs an Oahu pyramid bridge and an Oahu pair of tuners. Anyone know where I might find these?

By: Linda Krolik

Linda Krolik — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:36:08 +0000

I have inherited my Fathers Hawaiian guitar. It is an electric double head with legs. It has Oahu, tolano console on it. Its body is a white pearl. I know my Father owned this around 1960 or 1961, and he bought it used. I haven’t been able to locate any information on this guitar. I have a lot of music, and lessons from the U.S. School of music copyright 1955. Please let me know any information you have, or where I can find it. Also, I was taught to play by my Father years ago, and would love to play again, but I am getting a light shock off the strings. My husband is not? The amp is a Valco tube, that is probably as old as the guitar. Do I need to replace the amp?
Any help you can give me is most greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Linda Krolik

By: Hazel Bentley

Hazel Bentley — Mon, 26 May 2008 23:06:58 +0000

I am 62 years old. As a teenager. I learned to play Hawaiian guitar using the Oahu publishing company method. I put the guitar aside for over 40 years. I am in the process of re learning what I had let lapse. I am using the Oahu lessons that I kept. I have tham all in good condition and they are once again my learining tools. I have found a teacher who knows the guitar and is helping me with the theory. he was amzed to see that I had kept everything. His first comment to me was that he could help me but I would have to find an instruciton book and music. WHen I advised thaa tI had everything , he was amazed. The Oahu Publishing cOmpnay msuic and instructions are once again teaching me the art I thought I had lost. I am grateful.

By: Anita Knight

Anita Knight — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:22:56 +0000

Der Sir, My mother learned to play the Hawaiian electric guitar back in 1939 by an old Hawaiian named Kilani. She did not know music notes and he taught the Oahu numbers method. Her guitar was named “Old Kraftsman”, and I think it was sold by Sears and Roebucks. She used 2 finger picks and a thumb pick, and a metal bar.
I still member how beautiful she could play. By the way, she played by ear before the lessons.
Anita Knight

By: Brad Bechtel

Brad Bechtel — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:19:46 +0000

The full story of the Oahu Publishing Company of Cleveland, Ohio, may be found in “The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians” edited by Lorene Ruymar and published by Centerstream Press. Oahu sold music lessons and guitars from 1926 on; the company was closed in 1985.