Why Become A Member?
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association is the credible resource for all things related to Hawaiian Steel Guitar music. Our members range from students, to legendary musicians, to passionate Hawaiian music followers. Our festivals and events offer you a chance to get close to the best players and hear beautiful Hawaiian Steel Guitar music expertly played along with the opportunity to engage with like-minded people. Basic membership includes our quarterly electronic newsletter and periodic blogs sent to your email address. Members are also eligible for discounted ticket prices to our annual festivals, plus they receive inside information on instruments and Hawaiian music collections that come up for sale. While we do offer some access to our curated resources to anyone who visits our website...our members are able to get full access to all of our resources including: our library of almost 40 years of archived newsletters. There, members can discover stories of the history of the Hawaiian steel guitar, legendary international players, photos and stories of vintage steel guitar instruments, reports on past annual festivals, album reviews and much more. Members also have access to videos from past festivals, our compilation of 140+ song tablatures (some with backing tracks) and a collection of audio and video recordings by our members, past and present.
“Carefree”
Carefree is a slow 3/4 (waltz) tune written and first recorded as a 78 by Andy Iona & His Islanders in 1938. The “Islanders” lineup included George “Tautu” Archer, Harry Baty, Harry Evans, Joe Nawahi & Sam Koki. I discovered the tune initially when starting out on steel guitar using Bruce Clarke’s terrific “Hawaiian Hotshots” course. Bruce was an Australian lap steel guitarist who evangelized Hawaiian-style music “Down Under” with his training courses and Cumquat Records releases. I was fortunate to purchase his collection of Hawaiian arrangements as well as his Dobro guitar. The Sheet Music here is based on Bruce Clarke’s and features a key change for G to Eb and back to the original key of G. — Phill Walker
Win A Cast Aluminum Clinesmith Steel Guitar
From HSGA!
This year we will be raffling off a lovely Cast Aluminum Clinesmith long scale 8-string lap steel guitar in September at our Emeryville, CA Festival. This guitar was generously donated by HSGA member Mark Roeder. Mahalo Mark!
This raffle is open to HSGA members only. New members who join between July 1, 2024 and September 28, 2024 (by 4:00 p.m. Pacific time) will receive one free raffle entry. If you are not a HSGA member please select the “Free Raffle ticket with NEW Membership (8/15 - 9/28/24)”
We ask that new members also complete the membership application on our website. Please see HSGA.org and click the “JOIN” button in the upper right corner for member benefits and specifics.
The raffle will be held on Saturday evening, September 28 at 4:15 p.m. at the HSGA Festival in Emeryville, CA. You do not need to be present to win. But you must be a current HSGA Member. Good luck!
Member Benefits
Become part of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar community. Meet the players, learn the music, get insider tips.
MEET THE PLAYERS
There’s no better way to learn the Hawaiian Steel then from the masters.
INSIDER TIPS
Get the info on steels, amps, picks and players from those that know.
THE ARCHIVES
Unlimited access to every HSGA article published, plus our 38+ years of Tabs to over 150 songs.