8/13/2019 An Instrument of Love
1/5
Class Assignment 1An Instrument of Love _____________________________
English 2 (ENGL 0205)
Joshua Chua Shu Min 0313572
8/13/2019 An Instrument of Love
2/5
An Instrument of Love
Please pick a tool to write on for your first class assignment My
unpretentious mind immediately went blank when our English lecturer threw
forward that mind-boggling question to us. At that moment, I was at the state
of anxiety. Therefore, I took a deep breath and continue thinking of simple
tools that I can write on. Tools such as chainsaw, G-clamp and measuring
tape began to appear in my mind. However, I did not pick any of those tools
as I just cant think on how to describe them even though they are simple
tools. My eyes suddenly set upon the guitar that was placed at the corner of
the room.
Why not choose a guitar as my tool to write on since I always use it during my
leisure time? So, I walked towards the corner of the room and picked up the
guitar that was placed on the guitar. Looking closely, I noticed that the guitar
has curves like a mannequin, awaiting clothes to be put on it as it is brownish
yellow in colour with idiosyncratic ornaments on it. The guitar has a long neck
even though it is just a musical instrument. It has six strings in total and six
metal nuts like structure on the top, exactly three on each side. These nuts
with strings entwined together determine the pitch of the guitar. Besides that,
there are also three thin plastics that hold the guitar strings perfectly in place
as the guitar. One at the top and the other two below. When I took a closer
look at the rectangular plastics, I noticed that they are already yellowish white
in colour as it is already a seven years old guitar. My eyes began to observe
closer at the top of the neck and the brand name Yamaha is printed in
crystal white. As my eyes went down towards the neck, there are 20 frets all
8/13/2019 An Instrument of Love
3/5
8/13/2019 An Instrument of Love
4/5
it. I did the same thing at the back of the guitar and I sensed that the dum
sound produced at the front was clearer compared to the back. This was
maybe because of the center hole at the front that acts as an obstacle which
enables the sound wave to diffract and produce an unwavering sound.
Without noticing, I had that perception that the body of the guitar can also be
turned into another instrument that works like a drum. After that, I continued
my investigation by strumming the first string starting from the left using my
bare hands. The pitch increases accordingly as I proceeded strumming from
the first string to the sixth string. This is most probably because of the
thickness of the string. While strumming, I found out that the diameter of the
string increases consistently from the left-hand corner to the right-hand
corner. When I applied a bigger force on the string, the reverberation is louder
and clearer.
As my mind wondered on what to write on, my eyes promptly focused on my
wallet that was left on the study table. Without procrastinating, I instantly took
out my yellow guitar pick and began struming all the strings one by one once
more. After strumming, I made a conclusion that strumming using a guitar pick
is way better because it produces a sound that is better in quality compared to
when I used my naked fingers. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, TI, Do t hat was the
tune that churned out when I placed my finger from the first fret and slowly
pulled it to the second until the 20 th fret. I reiterated the same process for the
rest of the strings.
8/13/2019 An Instrument of Love
5/5
Always make sure that you use all of your five senses when you are
carrying out an experiment , that is what my Biology teacher , Miss. Lucy
would always remind the students each time when we were carrying out an
science experiment. The tongue and nose are the two sensory organs that I
have yet to use. Without vacillating, my nose went closer and closer to the
guitar with a slow motion thinking that it would smell because I often used it
after sports. When I had a good sniff, I noticed that the guitar still smells just
the way it is. Before I submit my essay before 11.59pm, I roughly look through
the criteria once again and I perceived that I missed out a point. I quickly took
up the guitar and fondled it to feel what is the temperature like. It felt cooling
as the air-conditioner was on.
Music brings life to the soul. When I am going through a hard time, as I strum
my guitar, it comforts and consoles me. As I continue strumming and singing
along, it lives me out from my sadness. This is why I called my one and only
guitar that has been by my side for the past seven years the instrument of
love.