Sounds of chords and guitar tuning waft from an upstairs meeting room at the Families First center on Clayton Road in Concord.

Five adult guitar instructors and a few teen teachers cluster with 13 young people, checking on their progress and getting ready for class.

At the Guitars Not Guns session, Ygnacio Valley High School sophomore Michelle Brandt, wearing a crocheted cap and unlaced high-tops, concentrates while reviewing a chord progression.

"It's always been my goal to sing in concerts, and I want to be able to do a solo. I want to be up on stage by myself with a guitar," she says. Her favorite performers are Pink, Beyoncé and Paramour.

Tineisha Elliott, also from Ygnacio Valley, sports a chic red and black plaid scarf, and says she always liked the guitar.

"I want to get better at it," she said. "Now I'm finally getting somewhere." The 15-year-old counts Panic at the Disco and Blue October as favorite groups.

The nonprofit Guitars Not Guns provides free guitar lessons and guitars for foster children, at-risk youth and other deserving children. The goal is to engage their creative potential and offer a positive influence by diverting them from the influences of violence, gangs, drugs and alcohol.

Barbara Gorin spearheads the program locally and is a tireless recruiter of volunteer teachers, guitars, funds and networking opportunities to help the program grow and reach more children.

"Music is such

Her bubbling enthusiasm at receiving a donated Gibson guitar autographed by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart (recently auctioned on eBay), or participating in West Fest, in which 3,000 guitarists played Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" at the same time, is contagious.

Gorin says the lessons and close attention build encouragement and confidence in the youngsters.

"We tell them, if you learn these basic chords, you can play thousands of songs, even those of your favorite bands. And you can write your own songs," she says. "The kids see the teachers giving their own time to spend with them, and they so appreciate the focused attention. We also encourage discipline and responsibility in taking care of the guitars we loan them."

Cameron Gonzales, 10, is still new to the guitar. Holding the instrument and pressing his fingers down to form chords, he says, "It feels awkward. But it's fun. I really just want to play for my family."

Brenda Aaron of Concord brings her 8-year-old granddaughter, Miki Bautista, to the lessons.

"I saw kids who performed at the Bourbon Street Blues festival, and was just blown away with them," she says. "There they were, playing like veterans, with Tommy Castro."

"This seemed like such a good opportunity, and it's an awesome program," Aaron adds. "My granddaughter has a couple of friends in her class, and together they plan to start an all-girl band, at age 8."

The growing Guitars Not Guns program has picked up steam and support from many organizations, including Red House Studios in Walnut Creek.

This year, it has reached more than 150 Contra Costa County students in Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Richmond, Pittsburg and Antioch.

Soon, the class at Families First will graduate and those who are serious about the guitar may go on to more lessons.

Instructor and bass player Jim Mergens, part of the Red House Allstars Blues Band, works with Shelby Tinley, 16, and her brother, Cody, 13, from Bay Point, who are well into working on songs. Together, they rehearse chord progressions for "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan.

"These kids are just great, very attentive, and they've really got their hearts into it," says Mergens.

Cody is enthusiastic, and wants to continue learning and practicing.

"Without the guitar, life would be boring. Music makes life so much more interesting," he says.

Shelby agrees.

"Now, when there's nothing to do at home, there's actually something to do. My mom introduced me to The Who and Led Zeppelin. I introduced myself to The Beatles."

Founded by foster parents Ray and Louise Nelson in the 1990s, Guitars Not Guns held its first class in San Jose in 2002 and has spread to classrooms across the United States and in Canada.

"Any place we've taught, they've asked us to return. Urgently. Some places want us to come back for a third time," says attorney Randall Davis, lead instructor and vice president of the organization's Contra Costa chapter.

"We just want the kids to learn a skill that they can invest their time and emotion into," he says. "We hope they will just have fun."

As the kids put their guitars away and get ready to leave, they gather up their music books.

"Let the Music Begin" is the title of the beginners' book. The book that goes home with the advanced students is "Let the Music Continue."

For more information about Guitars Not Guns, visit www.guitarsnotguns.org.