You had always been in awe of James’s guitar skills. He made it look effortless, the way his fingers danced across the strings, coaxing out melodies that seemed to resonate with something deep inside you. It was no wonder he was the go-to person in your friend group whenever someone wanted to learn guitar. So when he offered to teach you, you jumped at the chance, even though the idea of actually learning felt a bit intimidating.

The two of you had set up in his living room, which was scattered with various instruments and gear. It was clear this was his domain, a space where creativity flowed freely. You had your guitar in hand—a decent starter model that you had barely touched until now—while James lounged comfortably on the couch, his own well-worn guitar resting on his lap.

“Alright,” he said, tuning his guitar with a few practiced twists of the pegs. “Let’s start with the basics. How familiar are you with chords?”

“Not very,” you admitted, feeling a bit sheepish. “I know the names of a few, but I’ve never actually played them.”

He nodded, his expression encouraging. “No worries, we’ll take it slow. I’ll show you some easy ones to get you started.”

James shifted closer to you, his fingers moving to position your hands correctly on the fretboard. The contact was gentle, his touch guiding rather than forcing. You watched closely as he demonstrated a simple chord, his fingers pressing down on the strings with just the right amount of pressure.

“Try this,” he said, nodding at you to give it a go.

You followed his instructions, trying to mimic the way his fingers moved, but the result wasn’t quite the same. The sound that came out was more of a dull thud than a clear chord. You winced, half-expecting him to laugh, but James just smiled.

“That’s totally normal,” he reassured you. “It takes a while to get the hang of it. Your fingers will need to build up some strength, too, but that comes with practice.”

He demonstrated the chord again, slower this time, breaking it down into each individual movement.