Coordination

When was the last time you experienced a remarkable Ah-Ha moment? A split second realization, “Finally I did it.”

Complete satisfaction when at long last you burst into song,

“Incredible! That’s how it’s supposed to feel.”

It’s when everything finally synchronizes. Left hand, right hand, fingers, muscle control, touch, motion, emotion, harmony, and ecstasy.

Caught ya . . . I know what you're thinking. You’re not even close!

However, this morning, during my daily guitar practice I finally achieved the proper touch and combination of physical movement and emotional equanimity that allows a musician to “tickle the frets and achieve nirvana.”

“What?”

Well, it’s a long story. I’ve tried to explain it many times since I’ve started playing guitar. Like most amateurs, I concentrate so hard to achieve a clear, clean sound by squeezing the frets that my fingers hurt. As a result, it's tough to consistently coordinate my alternate picking synchronized with fretting.

But this morning everything just seemed to flow . . . equipoise. My digits gently danced across the frets. Crisp chord changes, effortless running of the scales, and toe-tapping bluegrass licks over the G and C Chords. What an exhilarating feeling of triumph.

During a live performance, have you ever studied an accomplished guitar player? They make it look so effortless. Ask them some time,

“What’s your secret?”

“Practice,” they say.

“Practice what?”

“You know . . . work on your scales.”

Frustrated I’m thinking, “Can you be just a little more specific.”

And finally, you get it, that moment of delight arrives. You smile so big you could eat a banana sideways. It’s the one thing a seasoned guitar player or the finest instructor cannot quantify - coordination.

So, what is it really that brings all this together? I hate to say it. It sounds so patronizing - “Practice!” Persistent, consistent, imperturbable effort.”

Simply put it’s a combination of habit, relaxation, and the absolute joy of being "in the field" at that moment.

I’ve always loved that metaphor from the movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance,

“Fix your eyes on Bobby Jones - feel that focus, he’s in the field.”

“Don’t think about it, seek it with your hands. Feel it.”

Equipoise, balance, coordination. That’s how it’s supposed to feel.

This is Patrick Ball, thanks for listening, see you in the next episode.

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