Even the beginning guitarist can easily learn to play the Eagles' song "Hotel California." The song structure is built upon seven simple chords, some of which have the same or nearly identical finger settings. The way in which these chords combine, though, is rather complex. Interpreting the music of this song seems as difficult as decoding its lyrics. Ger Tillekens here contributes to the debate by analysing the basic chord pattern as an expanded Spanish progression that gives the song its Spanish feel and acts as to keep it firmly locked into the moment.

Even for non-guitarists, if you skip down the page to this article's notes, they are of interest to anyone who lived through the era of progressive rock, as you'll see.