Lyric discussion by TwoWayIndependence 

Cover art for Hard to Concentrate lyrics by Red Hot Chili Peppers

For those asking if it's a synthesizer they're using in this song, it isn't. Frusciante first mutes the guitar on clean, then slowly turns up the volume knob after strumming the chord. That prevents the twang of the pick strum when performing the chord. That's how the synth-like sound is created and it's actually pretty simple to do with a Fender Stratocaster