Every way that you can possibly express your song exists in you already. Each unique self that expresses your song already IS. This means that all manner of combination of expressions that can possibly be used to express your song exist in you as individual selves. From the very fast to the very slow. From the brightest and clearest expression to the most mundane.
It is focus that determines which of these selves is used for each expression used in each moment of your song. It is also focus that re-establishes the desired perspective in each expressive moment when focus is momentarily lost. Maintaining focus is critical for each and every performance of the song. It is imperative to stay focused on the perspective from which the song is expressed. You could equate this to maintaining that "feeling" in your gut that is driving you to express your state of BEing. It is further necessary to stay focused on each expression used in the construct in the song for each performance. You could equate this to expressing a finer level of emotional detail, in that each component expression represents a specific experience or summarized set of experiences that are part of that underlying gut "feeling" that is the perspective from which the song is presented.
The way that you blend your self expression, between force and speed, is your unique base of energy from which to express your self. Experiment with the measure of force and speed to establish a good "feel" for expressing your self on your guitar. Modify the blend to see the range of expression that is available to you. You will be able to make a large range of expressions on just a single string just by pouring your "self" into the flutter or buzz of the striking hand. Do not worry about the specific choice of notes until you feel comfortable with making a sound that is representative of how you feel. Don't be intimidated. There are no tests. There is no right and wrong. What you are doing is learning to "focus" on driving your sound. Relax and have fun with it. When you have a comfortable feel, pick out the notes for a simple melody. Not a melody that you have heard before. YOUR melody. What makes it YOUR melody is the pouring of your "self" into each note. It is imperative that you do not base the melody on a melody that is someone else's creation. The same notes are avilable to everyone. Just pick a handful of notes to build on and own them by pouring your "self" into them. There are not that many notes to begin with and yet they are all over the guitar. Experiment with changing pitch range for the melody that you chose. Again, have fun with it. The more that you relax and just "let it flow", the easier it will be. If you have any difficulties with this, DO NOT SLOW DOWN. Speed up! AND RELAX. Do NOT compromise your base energy. It is the most critical of all to define your self. You will discover your own unique sound as you experiment. You will find some pretty cool sounds that are "You" in the transitional movements between notes, diads, triads, or even partial chord bass lines.
I previously explained the mechanical aspects of moving energy through the guitar. This started out with a figure "8" laid over on its side along the neck of the guitar and was followed by a discussion of the "superposition" of that form. This was followed by some basic manipulation of the sideways figure "8" loops and modification of the position of the center-point in relation to positional placement on the guitar neck. The purpose of this exercise is to introduce you to moving energy into your guitar. It is perhaps the easiest with which you can "feel" the flow of the energy. You can also modify the intensity and speed and "whip up" the energy to a higher state of excitement. The micro currents nested within the larger sweeping currents moving across the strings at a lightening speed gives the physical texture to the sound.
The energy is not only very easy to feel in the above exercise, you will quickly be able to "see" the energy moving through your guitar. It is not your eyes that will allow you to see it, since it is extra-dimensional in nature. You will be able to hear and feel the energy with your physical senses, since you are converting the extra-dimensional energy into sound - vibrations of the media around you (air, physical objects, etc.).
To get a handle on seeing the energy, you must first start off by feeling it. The exercise mentioned above will prepare you for the process of moving energy into your guitar. But the mechanics of the process are not the process itself. YOU are the process. Feeling the life in each self that contributes to the performance of the song, is the starting point. When you radiate from each of these points of "self", they connect at a higher energy level and become extra-dimensional in nature. This provides a "tangible" texture to the energy that you are moving into the guitar. The more tangible it becomes, the more clearly you can see it. You radiate stronger and stronger, generating a thick medium of energy. An entirely new world of articulation will open up to you as your comfort level with the energy allows you to incorporate finer and finer levels of variations in the flow in your accentuations as you perform.
Do NOT be thinking about what you have read here when you are performing your song. Simply read it and understand the idea beforehand and you will do fine. You must NOT be thinking about anything when performing your song. It is about expressing a feeling, a state of BEing. You must be free from all other thoughts to stay focused on your perspective from which the song is expressed. Remember, You are what this is all about.
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