Learn The F Chord on Guitar
In this lesson we take a quick, in-depth look at how to play the F chord, and the difference between the F barre chord, and the “little” F Chord.
I also have a lesson covering the EASIEST way to play the F chord on guitar. Check out my Easy F Chord Tutorial here!
When you’re first learning how to play guitar, I recommend practicing chord switching between two chords. That way, you’ll be able to learn some easy 2 chord songs on guitar, and can focus on the strumming patterns and all that other (very important) stuff. F is no exception!
Once you learn a few two chord songs, you’ll be able to expand your chord vocabulary and learn some 3 chord songs, etc. It’s more important to focus on the whole picture (putting chords & strumming together) than getting carried away with how many chords you know – quality over quantity!
Not sure what this chord diagram means? Learn how to read guitar chord diagrams!
Tips For Playing F Chord on Guitar
In my free eBook, you’ll find the following F chord tips along with helpful diagrams and visuals to make this chord easier to play.
- Make sure your thumb is in a good spot near the middle of the neck (up vs down) and pointing upwards
- Sit up straight, with your shoulders back
- Keep your fingers curled so they don’t mute adjacent strings
- Press as close to the fret as possible
To speed up the process, I recommend doing some quick & easy warmup exercises that’ll help build up your strength and reach. To help with that, here’s a page with some great guitar warm up exercises for beginners (and beyond!)
Switching Between F and Other Basic Guitar Chords
F is one of the final “basic” chords that students usually learn. The Little F chord is a bit easier, but still somewhat demanding when compared to chords like G and Am. I recommend switching from F to C to start. The F barre chord shares a finger (ring) with the C chord, while the little F chord is a simple move away from it.
To help you practice this switch and many other common ones, I’ve put together an entire page dedicated to switching between F and other basic chord shapes.
Easy Songs Containing The F Chord
Here is a list of easy F chord songs (granted you are using little F). If you’d like to find more, check out this list of 2 Chord Songs on Guitar. There are a few containing the F major chord and one other basic shape. You can also try using the song finder, here on my website. Simply check the box for “F” and search for any song containing the F chord!
- Riptide
- Stay With Me
- House of The Rising Sun
- Shape of You
If you’re looking for a complete path, that will transform you from an absolute beginner into a confident guitarist, check out my Beginner’s Course. It’ll teach you all the fundamentals of guitar: rhythm, dexterity, accuracy, all while learning real songs that you can enjoy playing at home, or with your family and friends.
Develop the fundamental skills needed to play guitar with confidence. Hands-on learning, presented in a clear and concise manner. Learn the basics using real songs, strum with a steady rhythm, master the basic chord shapes, learn to count along to music and more!
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