Zen and the Art of Guitar Playing
March 22, 2004There's something about playing the guitar that cannot be replaced by any other sensation. Feeling the strings push into your calluses, the body of the thing resonating against your belly when you pound out an open G chord and let it ring out. Whenever I lose my way and begin to feel like I'm out of sorts, simply playing the guitar will bring me back and remind me that it's not really so complicated.
I expend so much energy running in circles to get to this simple place. Searching for that one thing that will make me happy --- that will fulfill me, justify my existence, make my mark in this world -- and make my life a meaningful pursuit. I don't know why it has to matter. I don't know why I have this need to be "successful" as a musician when it's simply the making of the music that matters. I struggle and I rant and I spit out bitter declarations and ultimatums, but always after a time, I will rise early one morning and feel that primal ache just to hold the instrument and play for no one but myself. When I sing with the guitar, something incredible happens: I stop thinking, and that is good.
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Review of Eddie's Attic Show on March 30th
Dylan Turns Six and Eddie's is Still the Place to Be
Charles Brings his Guitar and Plays Mine
Beyond Pat-Boone-Debbie-Boone: Gerry Hanson Rocks
Eatting, Writing, Living Large
A Trip to Wayne Henderson's Shop
Funny Blogs and Conversation Ticks
Infinite Possibilities at Checkout
Recording the New Screen Door Album
Dylan Makes Five and Becomes a Knight
Easter Bunny, Bacteria and Other Random Thoughts
Turning the Odometer on my Universe
Old Friends and Being an Artist
Dark Side of the Moon in Decatur