First Notes

 At 10am this morning I began my first guitar practice of the New Year.  I paused as I wanted to know what note I would play and why I choose it as the first note of the year.  I decided on a simple exercise given to me in my early days of Guitar Craft played on an open A string.  I would play this exercise for 5 minutes.

Five minutes of touching the innocence with which I have originally encountered the guitar.  Five minutes of receiving a reminders of the value of small qualitative acts.  Five minutes of embracing an old commitment that has borne much fruit and five minutes of wondering what is now possible.

A few minutes later while playing through The Call, I decided that this same exercise would be how I end my last guitar practice of the year.  Seemed a bit clever at the time.

Then when I sat down with my guitar this evening, I knew my relationship with music had a beginning this year and can touch the end simultaneously.  This is better than clever.

May all of you have a peace filled and loving year.  Rise to the challenges you meet and give a hand to another. 




Photo by Josh James.

The First Note Calling to Me

As you start to walk on the way, the way appears. ~Rumi

Tired after being out most of the day and feeling a cold coming on.  I needed to pick up my guitar as I did not play yesterday.  After having soup for dinner, I thought about where to begin the session.  I was clueless as a big part of me just wanted to go back to reading a novel. Then I thought about my first note of 2015 - Bb.  What might the  Bb reveal to me on this evening?  Might I explore brave new sonic material? 

I decided to drop the grandiosity and pick up the guitar.  And I'm happy I did.  I played with just a Bb, on different areas of the fretboard, then began to improvise with Bb as a tonal center.  Not much of interest was happening but as least I was caressing those strings.  I began playing through The Call, and then returned to Bb for some reason.  A melody of interest tinkled out and I began to develop this.  This spark of the creative spirit lifted my mood as I continued to explore possibilities.  I could have taken it further, but really do need to rest.  Trusting that that more shall be revealed.

Photo by Nelson L.

The First Note

   
                                            The first note.

What would be the first note I would play in 2015?  Prudent to begin the New Year with an intentional note.  My mind went to Eb, perhaps the first note I choose to fall in love with.  An A was the actual first note that took me into her confidence, showed me the beauty and power of a single note.  But early on in my work in Guitar Craft when I was directed to find my own voice, I fell for an Eb;  eighth fret on the fifth string.  She showed me wonder and possibility; showed me how to find the next note and which notes would increase her beauty, intrigue, mystery or horror.  Yes, Eb has been very good to me.  I decided that this would be the first note I'd play this year.

After settling in with myself and my guitar, I tuned.  Then with attention I played my first note.  I played her and played with her.  First with a gentle crescendo, then a decrescendo.  Then a bit faster, then slower; savoring the sound coming from this one note.  I varied the attack by my thumb and the first three fingers of my left hand.  Can I make the note the same volume regardless of which finger invites her to sound?  I played with various fingering combinations of the left hand; again building crescendos and decrescendos.  Just enjoying this single note.

I decided to play a chromatic scale playing each note with the thumb and each finger of the of the left
hand, building a crescendo across the 12 notes and then a decrescendo.  Then various combinations of sequential notes and intensity.  Then the surprise, I noticed I was on the fourth string and had begun with a Bb. A miscalibration of the mind and hands or a hidden intention of the Universe.  Smiling wondering where this might take me this year.  A brief improvisation in Bb major followed.  Then I wondered what was the last note I played yesterday, the last day of the year?  I do not know.  Will I ever wake up?

The First Note

What will be the first note I play this year?  Perhaps more importantly, how will I play this first note of the year?  Will I be present with the note?  Will I be awake, alive, and making a choice - subsequently ensuring that the note is real?   Fortunately I have a path of practice, a way of returning to the present and being with an activity that makes this possible.

So with no sense of rushing nor urgency, I'll first work on my nails, then myself. Then I'll open the case with intention, care and love.  Extending this to the steps of putting on the guitar, tuning, and then making a choice.  Why do I want it to be an Eb I wonder? 

What will be your first note of the year?  How will you play it?