In the context of this chapter, the expression may be a single phrase in a song, an entire song. or a collection of songs that comprise a single story. A story may be an expression of the evolution of a specific "self" that is you. A song may represent the perspective of a particular state of BEing that is you. A phrase may be a specific piece of guitar work, a particular lyrical phrase, or both that is you. Let's take them in order of expansion. But, before I delve into the mechanics of the processes, let me give one clarifying concept that should underlie each of these types of expression.
Each of these forms of expression is a composite of selves. You might argue that, no, this expression is an expression of rage (for example). But rage itself is not you. That emotional content is the result of a composite of states of BEing. That is the level of expression that you should be refining in your expression of self. An expression of emotion is meaningless without the connection to the states of BEing that generated it. As I have stated previously, the "self" that you are at any given performance of the expression is unique compared to all other peformances due to your current state of Being (including current physiology, energy level, etc.). The more that you perform the expression, the more of your "selves" become part of the totality of your state of BEing. This is an evolutionary process that never ends. There is no correct way to express your self. Each expression is always a genuine expression of self "here and now". The more of your "selves" that you are, the more agile and creative you become in your expressions.
As I have previously stated, the expressions that comprise the song must each represent the emotional content that is applicable to that portion of the song. The expression must be driven by a naturally arrived at, expression of the event or summarization of a number of events that are the source of the emotional state of being. The more fluent you become with moving the energy through the guitar, the more options there are available to you, in the context of sounds that you can generate. Your ability to express your self with the guitar will evolve into a natural reaction. Knowing the guitar is not a memorization of what locations make what pitches of sound. You "feel" where everything is, all at once and constantly. There is no forgetting. The guitar is part of you. Can you forget your own hand or arm? You express yourself to others with hand gestures that express motion. This is similar. At this point, you may very likely have clearer and more expressive ways of moving the energy into the guitar, and you may very well decide to update them. This is part of the natural evolution of a phrase.
The lyrical phrases that you choose in your expression of self should NOT evolve. they should be designed from the start to properly express the state of BEing. The only exceptions that comes to mind, is when you are adding a set of verses to a song that was never really complete to begin with or you decide to perform the song in a different way. It is possible that as your guitar playing evolves, you may choose another form of expression on the guitar wherein the words no longer fit properly. In such a case, you may have to alter the lyrics to fit. But it is far more important that they properly express the state of BEing intended, rather than be chosen for the sake of rhyme or fit. This is one of those situations where a greater vocabulary with words and phrases of more specificity comes in handy. Expand on your ability to communicate an idea with words.
As an example, let's say that you start out with a basic pattern of tones that you feel may aptly serve as a structure on which to build this expression. You might first use chords to establish the content that you will be working with. You might decide on a small series of tones to serve as transitional sounds between the chords. You might create another such structure to serve as a bridge that may or may not be the refrain or chorus of the song.
It is important to note here that each of these few stages evolves from its predecessor. After humming a tune that expresses your emotional state in a particular state of BEing, you may assign chords and start moving the energy into the guitar to see where it takes you. But you are not wandering aimlessly, you are focused on bringing the sound more and more in line with the state of BEing that is expressed in the song. Then you start feeling out the transitional notes that would aptly define the state of BEing. Once established, you may (or may not) convert the chords into individual tones and merge them with the transitional notes, providing a driving melody that serves as the base of the song. Now this conversion of chords to tones may be partial in that abbreviated chords may replace them, or they may be a complete conversion to individual tones, or they may not be altered at all. Then, you may (or may not) add a bridge, which itself, may (or may not) contain multiple tones or chords, and transitional notes.
The above is just an example of one approach that one might use in the beginning stages. The more that you perform and strive to perfect the expression of the song, the more agility you will develop. You may decide at some point to drop the chords altogether and use a guitar melody derived from diads, triads and individual tones. You may elect to re-structure that melody to interact with the vocals in the form of another voice that provides counter-points and/or a wider selection of differing sounds. There is no limit to what you can do with the structure, and you will find that its evolution is a life-long adventure. The experience is a dynamic, ever-growing definition of self. Remember that there is no "correct" or "perfect" version of the song. They are all correct and perfect versions of you in your unique states of BEing each time that you perform the song.
As you become more advanced, you will become versatile enough to start directly with melodies rather than building off of a basic construct. The more fluent you are with moving the energy through the guitar, the easier it is to "hit the ground running". When you learn to play from an extra-dimensional perspective, everything is simple. Every "self" that you are using in your expression is clear and easy to see, as is the melody, that comes from it. When you are playing extra-dimensionally, you are playing multiple layers of these "selves" simultaneously. To an observer, it appears extremely complex. But to you, it is a simple layering of simple constructs.
You may start your story out with a specific set of songs that represent the summarized existence of one of your particular selves. But as you progress through the creation of the story, the persona of this self will become stronger and more of a central persona of your total self. You may decide that this song or that song may detract from this more resolute image and you may decide to drop it or replace it with another new song that is more appropriate for the newer persona.
I have a few songs that were part of the original persona of The Dark Star that no-one will ever hear. The persona of The Dark Star has evolved into something powerful and positive, and those songs detract from the newer persona presented in my story. There was a lot of pain back then and I responded from many different selves, which I now find unworthy of inclusion in the story of The Dark Star.
So, be ready to "BE" that self that is comprised of the selves that represent you in each phrase and song of your story. Like any learned skill, it becomes a part of who you are as a person in this continuum that you call your life. You use it to express yourself as readily as you would use your fist or your words. You live what you are. Live your story with the realization that it never ends. You will continue to evolve as will your methods of self-expression. And always keep in mind that the more energy you pour into your songs, the more life they have on their own as an extension of you. After all, you are what they are all about.
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