Fixing A Soul

9. Back To Basic

"And it's all from you, no one, no more
there's a beauty in every single soul
in the one's here or the one's that returned home" I sang queitly as I lightly strum the rhythm on the guitar.

"didn't know you could write songs" Paul came into the room, stopping at the doorframe and leaned on it, smirking at me.

I was at his apartment today, he had invited me over for today's studio session, a short runaway from my studies as Paul calls it. I sat there in his studies, it's a very cozy space, with a big fireplace surrounded by several couches and a wall of bookshelf behind the couch. It only has one window to supply sunlight into the room, a branch of a big tree was visible through the window sill.

Funnily enough, there's no sight of a desk or office chair anywhere, seems to me it's more like a mini home library rather then a study room.

"not really actually" I murmured, twisting my lips slightly, not quite sure of what to think about Paul's suggestion.

"why not? that one wasn't too bad, I'm sure you'll do great after a couple of runs" Paul encouraged me, shifting his position slightly.

I sighed as I wished I could have meant the words I just sang, but it doesn't seem possible. It's not because it's not true, it's because I'm just unable to be truthful to myself and see these things I'm lacking on.

"I'm better off writing poetry, actually" I nagged, trying to brush it off. Paul has always been such an encouraging person and have always supported anything I do.

"add a tune to that and you'll get a song" Paul raised his right eyebrow convincingly, wrapping his arms around himself as if he managed to convinced me.

"that's not convincing enough" I objected with a develish grin, feeling a little bit courageous now that I've recollected myself from my day dream upon the song I've just made up.

"Here" Paul walked in and took the guitar from me, sitting himself next to me on the sofa and begin strumming a few chords.

"Look at Buddy Holly's songs, they're mostly just three chords" he demonstrated, playing a Buddy Holly tune brightly. "just an A,D,E" he explained passionately, demonstrating a few more examples with confidence, ranging from Dickie Valentine to Elvis Presley.

"Now let's take fingerstyle, these two fingers down here" he positioned his pointer and ring finger on the fret board and picked two of the strings.

"simple positions, streched it out abit and you got a different sound" He futher explained as he slide his pointer finger down a fret, turning it into a different note.

"let's try it on the top string" He lifted all of his fingers and played a lick with a singular note. "music is simple, just fiddle around till you get the right tune" Paul smiled, feeling satisfied of his little explaination on different chord progressions.

What Paul just showed me seemed rather easy to follow along, I was slightly convinced now. Perhaps it's not too hard to try and write a song wouldn't it?

Of course just like anything else, it's a skill of improvement, you have to practice to improve and be good at it. While having the world's biggest songwriter sitting just beside me whilst also being the closest friend I've ever had, there's no doubt I'll have a good tutor to guide me through.

"Do you want to know the first song we recorded as a skiffled band?" Paul went on, still griping the guitar to his chest.

"sure" I shrugged, not sure of what to expect from it.

"George and I wrote this" Paul noted. He began strumming lightly and started to sing out the lyrics.

"in spite of all the danger, in spite of that may be.." sang Paul's soothing voice