Tune-Ups

August 28

I am thankful for tune-ups. Tune-ups are required to keep things, and yourself, in working order. Without tune-ups, we would quickly begin to run poorly, go off key. Name your metaphor. In any event, after a while of running, tune-ups are required for automobile engines to run smoothly. In string music, a tune-up, actually tuning, is required to keep the strings at the correct pitch after they have drifted. We people often require tune-ups in the form of rest and relaxation, vacation, worship, trips to the dentist, doctor, friend, or counselor. Just a little tweak is all that is sometimes needed to get back in smooth working order.

This is my mandolin showing the head with the tuning mechanisms and knobs.

tune-ups

you can play soulful

or you can play perfectly nice

you can finger the notes accurately

and the rhythm be very precise

but if the your instrument

fails to be in tune

the notes you strike perfectly

will sound as lampoon

so tune-ups are required

for every musician to succeed

securing the correct notes

perfectly timed and perfectly keyed.

© rt tulley