Steve Cheney is one of HIMELE's featured artists in our Hawaiian Steel Guitar festivals and lately in our livestreamed Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcases. We are fortunate to have Steve as a participant in our events.
What many people don't realize is that Steve is also a steel guitarist for the Polynesian Cultural Center. Steve and his son Ben have been the Center's steel guitar players since 1996 and provide the music for the Center's productions.
The Cheneys were featured in an article a few years ago in the Polynesian Culture Center's online blog.
The article begins with a brief history of Joseph Kekuku then transitions into how the legacy of the steel guitar is preserved by Steve and his son, Ben.
In the article, Steve offers some great insight about playing the steel guitar. "If a person has the aptitude, he can pick it up reasonably quickly," he says. "But most people don't, so nine-out-of-ten trying it will drop out. They just don't have the patience for it."
His son Ben added, "You have to look at where you are on the neck. Unlike a regular guitar, you can't feel the frets because the steel guitar strings are elevated. Likewise, the steel bar has to be right on the fret-line, not in between like with a regular guitar or ukulele."
Steve makes an astute observation that is a noticeable characteristic of steel guitar players. Steve said, "If you look at steel guitar players, you almost never see them looking up. They're almost always looking down at the frets to see where they are."
The article is an interesting read and offers unique perspectives from a professional steel guitar player. To read the entire article, visit the Polynesian Culture Center's blog.
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2022
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday
May 28, 2022 – LIVE STREAMED on Facebook and YouTube 3PM - 5PM HST
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall incorporating the
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
June 11, 2022 – Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe, Hawai‘i
11:30 AM - 4:00 PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
July 11-14, 2022 – Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Nightly Evening Performances 5:30PM - 6:30PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival incorporating the
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
July 15, 2022 – Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Friday Performances 4PM - 6:30PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival incorporating the
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
July 16, 2022 – Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Saturday Performances 11AM - 2PM and 4:30PM - 6:30PM HST
AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 21-23, 2022 – Winchester, IN
Tickets available online or at the door
2022 HSGA Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
August 11-13, 2022 – Foster City, CA
Tickets available online or at the door
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall incorporating the
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
August 27, 2022 – Kahala Mall, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HST
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
December 8-11, 2022 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Kamuela, Hawai‘i Island.
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani incorporating the
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
December 10-11, 2022 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Kamuela, Hawai‘i Island.
Friday Ho‘olaule‘a 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM HST
Saturday Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a concert 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM HST
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