Need to learn how to play the F major chord on guitar? Check out the chord chart and photo below to see how to play the F chord with ease!
How to play the F Major guitar chord: Chart, Photo, and Description
Below are a couple of different ways you can play the F chord on guitar.
Option 1: The full barre
Playing F major with a barre is the most standard chord shape for guitar.
To play the F Major chord, place your left hand fingers on the following strings and frets:
- Index (Finger 1): Barre on all 6 strings
- String 6 (F)
- String 2 (C)
- String 1 (F)
- Middle (Finger 2): Fret 2, String 3 (A)
- Ring (Finger 3): Fret 3, String 5 (C)
- Pinky (Finger 4): Fret 3, String 4 (F)
The F barre chord is one of the most difficult guitar chords for beginners to learn. As if having to cover all of the six strings wasn’t challenging enough, fret 1 is also the widest fret on classical guitars. This makes the spread of the other fingers across frets 2 and 3 feel difficult as well.
As a beginner, the initial challenge is to apply enough pressure and accuracy with the index finger on the strings to make a clean sound. But remember, you have other fingers covering some of the strings (in this case, strings 5, 4, and 3)! Therefore, you can stagger the pressure of your index finger to only add weight to string 6, 2, and 1.
This staggering technique practice and patience. But over time, it’s how guitarists can build endurance and play pieces with barre chords for hours.
Option 2: The partial barre (beginner)
If you’re a beginner, then you’ll probably have more success playing the F major chord with a partial barre at first.
To play this variation:
- Index (Finger 1): Partial Barre on two Strings:
- String 1 (F)
- String 2 (C)
- Middle (Finger 2): Fret 2, String 3 (A)
- Ring (Finger 3): Fret 3, String 5 (C)
- Pinky (Finger 4): Fret 3, String 4 (F)
What are the notes in an F Major chord?
The notes of the F chord are:
- F (Root)
- A (Third)
- C (Fifth)
