"Alright. I hope you've been practicing what I showed you with loosening up the fingers. Because today we're going to turn that into tunes and chords. Chords are how you change the noise your guitar is making. And as most of you should know, the key is up at the neck."

El picked up his guitar. "Now, I want you to watch me closely and repeat on your own guitars."

El went through a variety of hand positions for chords, stopping to make sure each of the students had them before moving on, sometime helping individual students as merited it.

"I want you to practice playing with these with the same intensity you practiced loosening up your fingers. I know you can't practice all day, every day, but practice as much as you can.

Now that we've got that part out of way, I'll teach you a little tune. Something that you can show off to your friends when they ask you why on earth you're taking this class."

El lead them through a short traditional mariachi tune, the kind of thing he tended to play without thinking about it during his office hours.


"Now, I want you all to practice for the rest of the class, but before, two things. First, next class will be in the Danger Shop, where we will start working on building our guitars. Secondly, I need to know how many of you are capable of reading music.

Also, would Miss Stewart come see me?"