Sowlea

F chord on guitar: fingering and notes

F is a major chord made of F, A and C. This shape uses 6 strings, with the index finger barring fret 1.

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Read the diagram as if the guitar stands in front of you: thickest string on the left, the nut at the top. Numbers are fingers (1 index … 4 little), ○ means play the string open, × means don’t play it.

Where each finger goes

  1. Lay your index finger flat across strings 6–1 at fret 1, close to the fret wire.
  2. Ring finger on string 5 (A), fret 3.
  3. Little finger on string 4 (D), fret 3.
  4. Middle finger on string 3 (G), fret 2.

Notes in the chord

Formula: 1 – 3 – 5

StringFretNoteInterval
string 6 (low E)1Froot
string 5 (A)3Cperfect fifth
string 4 (D)3Froot
string 3 (G)2Amajor third
string 2 (B)1Cperfect fifth
string 1 (high E)1Froot

Easier version while you build the barre: play only strings 4–1, shape x x 3 2 1 1.

Check that every string rings

  1. Pick the strings one at a time from string 6 (low E) to string 1. Every note should ring for about a second without buzzing or going dull.
  2. A dull or muted note usually means a fingertip is leaning on the next string: arch the finger so only the tip touches.
  3. A buzzing note usually means the finger is too far from the fret wire: slide it closer without pressing harder.
  4. For the barre, roll the index finger slightly onto its bony side and keep the thumb behind the neck; press only as hard as needed for the barred strings to ring.

Practise: change between F and C

  1. Set the metronome to 60 BPM in 4/4 (the button below applies these settings).
  2. Strum F once on beat 1 and let it ring through beats 2, 3 and 4.
  3. During beat 4, lift your fingers and move to C so it sounds exactly on the next beat 1.
  4. Keep alternating F and C for eight bars. When three changes in a row land on the beat with every string ringing, raise the tempo by 5 BPM.

What to listen for: the new chord starts on the click of beat 1, not after it, and no string goes silent during the change.

Practise at 60 BPM

Where this chord is used

  • In C major it is the IV chord.
  • In F major it is the I chord.
  • In B♭ major it is the V chord.
  • In A minor it is the VI chord.
  • In D minor it is the III chord.
  • In G minor it is the VII chord.

Further reading

Fingerings and explanations by Sowlea. Each shape is checked automatically: the notes it sounds in standard tuning must be exactly the notes of the chord.