F Major Guitar Chord
F
| Name | F major | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | F | A | C |
| Intervals | Rroot | 3major 3rd | 55th |
Root
Chord type
- Space Play
- Left arrowRight arrow Root
- Up arrowDown arrow Chord type
Shape
Tone
Dots show
F is the famous first barre chord, and the chord that makes a lot of beginners want to quit. Every guitarist gets through it. Start with the easy 4-string F, then build up to the full barre.
How to play the F chord
- Lay your 1st finger flat across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret (a barre).
- Put your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the A string (C).
- Put your 4th finger (pinky) on the 3rd fret of the D string (F).
- Put your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the G string (A).
- Strum from the low E string down.
TipRoll your 1st finger slightly onto its bony side and set it right behind the fret wire. Most buzzing F chords come from the barre sitting in the middle of the fret instead of close to the wire.
Easier versionEasy F (xx3211): skip the barre on the low strings. 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the D string, 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, then lay your 1st finger across the B and high E strings at the 1st fret.
6 ways to play F
Every shape below is a real F, checked note by note: F, A, C and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.
Fm vs F: hear the difference
Only one note changes: F has A (the major 3rd), Fm has Ab (the minor 3rd). Play them back to back:
F
FAC
Bright and settled
Fm
FAbC
Darker and sadder
Chord progressions with F
Chords make sense once you move between them. Press play to hear each progression with the real recordings, one chord per bar, then play along. Tap any chord to open its page.
Practice changing to F
Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between F and the chord you picked, strumming each one, and keep a count in your head. Your hands stay on the guitar the whole time. When it beeps, type in your count and try to beat it next time.
F to C
60seconds
-last try
-your best
Songs that use F
- House of the Rising Sun by The AnimalsVerse loop Am-C-D-F
- Hey Jude by The BeatlesHome chord, verse F-C-C7-F
- Stay With Me by Sam SmithAm-F-C loop in verse and chorus
- Dreams by Fleetwood MacVerse alternates F-G
Learn it with a teacher
Diagrams show you where your fingers go. A teacher shows you how to make it sound good. Start with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:
Mastering Bar Chords - Introduction
Free with an account · Chris Feener
Mastering Bar Chords - Locating the Root Notes
Free with an account · Chris Feener
The Major Chord
Free with an account · Mike Edwin
Introduction To Guitar - Chords
Free with an account · Chris Feener
Access these lessons with a free account. No payment needed. Sign up free
Chords related to F
Chords that go with F
Other F chords
Other major chords
F chord FAQ
What notes are in an F chord?
F has 3 notes: F (the root), A (the major 3rd) and C (the 5th). Every F shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.
What is the difference between Fm and F?
Only one note changes: F has A (the major 3rd), Fm has Ab (the minor 3rd). Use the player above to hear both.
Is F hard to play?
It's one of the harder ones, because the main shape uses a barre. Start with the easy 4-string version above, then work toward the main shape.
How do you play F as a barre chord?
Barre the 1st fret with your 1st finger (1-3-3-2-1-1). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a major chord on every fret.
What key is F in?
It's the I chord in F major, the IV chord in C major and the V chord in Bb major, so it fits in all three keys.