[jennie20]

Hi everyone

I have been practicing guitar for a few weeks now, and have pretty much got the main chords learnt, and can move between them fine, but i am having trouble with the f chord.

I just read the sticky thread, where it takes you to youtube, i can kind of do the f chord that he is playing there, but i have some song sheets printed off and they show the f chord as having not only those four strings pressed down but also the 3rd fret of the 5th string, and the 1st fret of the 6th string, and i am having trouble even getting my fingers to reach those strings let alone play the note!!

I would be really grateful if any one had any tips on this???

thanks

[si16]

Hi Jennie, sounds like you are doing well for only a few weeks practise. The chord you are talking about is called an E shaped barre chord as it is based on the shape of an E chord. When you play this chord with the barre at the first fret you get the F chord that you are talking about. In the video you will see that skinnybloke also covers these types of chords from about the 55 second point.

The good news is that everyone who has ever picked up a guitar has struggled with barre chords and many never master them. Constant practise is the only way to get to grips with them. You will probably find it easier to start playing them further up the fretboard as the closer you get to the nut the more difficult they are.

You can read more about them here and here.

The 4 string F chord that you can play is fine to use until you can get more practise on barre chords.

[jennie20]

ok thanks alot, i wil take another look at the video and try to understand it a bit more!!

thanks!

[Dewy]

Its also "OK" to just play the top 3 strings of that chord (muting the skinny 'e' string) to continue learning songs. Later as you master the chord position it will just "sound better".

Yeah, me and my son both joke... "That "F" chord is an "MF" chord. Truth is though, its an introduction to the concept of "Barring" strings to make chords. Something every guitarist can use for any style of music.

If you divide your time between working with the three finger "fake" I suggested above, and playing with holding down the bottom two strings with your index finger (not just at first fret... but try same position up and down fret board)... the two parts will come together in no time.

[jennie20]

thanks dewy, i tried that and i seem to have worked out a position that works now, not sure its the right one but each string is pressed down where it should be so ill go with it!!
was loads of help
cheers

[Dewy]

Just sharing my experiences, glad to know I'm not alone out there.