4 Ways To Play The F Chord On Guitar - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Play the F Chord on Guitar PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Nate Savage

Last Updated: December 18, 2025 Approved

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  • Playing an Abridged "Mini" F
    • |
  • Playing an "Open" F Chord
    • |
  • Playing Barre Chord F
    • |
  • Making Things Easier
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
|Show more |Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X

This article was co-authored by Nate Savage. Nate Savage is a professional guitarist with over 16 years of experience teaching guitar to students around the world. His YouTube channel, Guitareo, has over 450,000 subscribers. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 11 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,036,014 times.

The F is one of the trickiest guitar chords to learn, but it is an important one that opens up all sorts of new chord shapes once mastered. There are many different ways to play an F-major chord, as it is often abridged or adapted depending on the song and guitarist. This, however, just offers you more ways to work the chord naturally into your playing.

Note: While all of the following chords can be used for "F-major" in a song, click here to go straight to the traditional, "full" chord. The earlier versions are easy methods of playing the chord to help your practice.

How to Play an Open F Chord

Three diagrams representing guitar strings, with numbers showing where to place your fingers to play a mini, open, or barre F chord.

Place your index finger on the first and second strings of the first fret, and your middle finger on the third string of the second fret. Place your pinkie on the fourth string of the third fret, and your ring finger on the fifth string of the third fret. Then, strum the guitar.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Playing an Abridged "Mini" F

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  1. Step 1 Place your index/pointer finger on the first and second strings on the first fret. 1 Place your index/pointer finger on the first and second strings on the first fret. In other words, you are using your index finger to hold down the E and B strings on the first fret. Use the pad of your finger to cover both strings with only one finger.
    • Try rolling your finger slightly back towards the headstock, so you're pressing down on the side of your finger instead of the fleshy part. This section is a little harder, making it easier to fret with.
  2. Step 2 Place your middle finger on the third string on the second fret. 2 Place your middle finger on the third string on the second fret. In other words, use your middle finger to hold down the G string (third from bottom) on the second fret. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Place your ring finger on the fourth string on the third fret. 3 Place your ring finger on the fourth string on the third fret. In other words, use your ring finger to hold down the D string (fourth from bottom) on the third fret.
    • If possible, lightly touch the fifth (A) string with the tip of your third finger -- this mutes the string so it can't be heard while strumming. While not essential now, this is an great technique to practice as you continue playing guitar.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Play the F Chord on Guitar 4 Practice picking and strumming the bottom four strings. Once all of your fingers are firmly in place, practice picking the bottom four strings until each note rings clearly. Pick each note individually to make sure they all sound out clean and clear.
    • If you hit a bum note, readjust your finger placement until you can play it clearly. The first and second strings are usually the most problematic -- check that your second and third fingers are curled directly onto the appropriate strings, rather than lying against the ones underneath.
    • Once you can play each note clearly, practice strumming the F chord. Also, practice changing from F to another chord, then back again. You may be painfully slow at first, but you'll eventually get the hang of it.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Playing an "Open" F Chord

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the F Chord on Guitar 1 Graduate to the open F, or the "old school F," for a fuller, richer chord. This version of the F major chord, nicknamed "old-school F" (as it was popular with musicians in the 60s and 70s), adds one extra note to the F described above, giving it a fuller, rounder sound. It is slightly harder to play than the "mini" F, but easier to play than the full barre chord F described below.[1]
  2. Step 2 Place your first finger on the first and second strings on the first fret. 2 Place your first finger on the first and second strings on the first fret. In other words, place your index finger on the E and B strings on the first fret. This is identical to the beginning of the F played above.
  3. Step 3 Place your second finger on the third string on the second fret. 3 Place your second finger on the third string on the second fret. In other words, place your middle finger on the G string on the second fret. This note is an A.
  4. Step 4 Place your fourth finger on the fourth string on the third fret. 4 Place your fourth finger on the fourth string on the third fret. In other words, place your pinkie finger on the D string on the third fret. You'll be on an F -- your root note for the chord.
  5. Step 5 Place your third finger on the fifth string on the third fret. 5 Place your third finger on the fifth string on the third fret. In other words, place your ring finger on the A string on the third fret.
    • This is the extra note. Your third finger is now placed on the A string while your pinkie finger is placed on the D string -- you can swap these two fingers around if you like, but most people find this position easier.
    • If possible, lightly touch the sixth (E) string with the tip of your third finger -- this mutes the string so it can't be heard while strumming.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Playing Barre Chord F

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  1. Step 1 Barre the first fret. 1 Barre the first fret. Place your index finger across all six strings on the first fret and press down. This version of F is the most traditional, and contains all of the notes without any shortcuts. This makes it the biggest, fullest version of the chord.[2]
    • Roll your finger slightly back towards the headstock, so you are pressing with the hard, bony side of your finger rather than the soft, fleshy middle. Barring takes some practice to get comfortable.
    • You will need to apply quite a lot of pressure to hold down all six strings. Try squeezing your thumb against the back of the neck for extra support.
  2. Step 2 Place the rest of your fingers. 2 Place the rest of your fingers. Holding your first finger in the barre position, form your second, third and fourth fingers into the shape of an E chord, starting on the second fret. More specifically:
    • Place your second finger on the third (G) string on the second fret.
    • Place your third finger on the fifth (A) string on the third fret.
    • Place your fourth finger on the fourth (D) string on the third fret.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Play the F Chord on Guitar 3 Play other barre chords. The finger position used for the F major barre chord is an example of what is known as an E barre formation, as the fingers following the barre make the shape of a basic E chord.[3]
    • For example: keeping your fingers in the same formation as the F barre chord, slide your hand down the neck of the guitar until your index finger is on the third fret. This is a G barre chord. If your index finger is on the fifth fret, you are playing an A chord. You can move this form anywhere.
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Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Making Things Easier

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the F Chord on Guitar 1 Learn on an electric guitar. If you have a choice between an electric and an acoustic guitar, learn to play the F chord on an electric guitar first. The thinner strings and faster fretboard make it much easier to maneuver around the strings, especially for barre chords.
    • The strings are closer to the fretboard on an electric guitar, so playing doesn't require as much finger strength.
  2. Step 2 Buy newer, thinner strings. 2 Buy newer, thinner strings. One good tip is to buy thinner strings for your guitar (preferably size 9s on an electric and size 10s on an acoustic) if your current strings are very thick.
    • Thinner strings don't require as much pressure to hold down, so they will save your fingers some pain!
    • If you want to learn how to change the strings on your guitar, see this article.
  3. Step 3 Lower the action. 3 Lower the action. The action of your guitar refers to how high the strings are placed above the fretboard. This requires professional servicing, but is a key step to make playing and learning guitar far more fun.
    • The lower the action, the less pressure you'll need to apply to the strings. Cheaper guitar often have very high action, which can be a problem for newer guitar players.
    • Luckily, guitar shops are usually able to lower the action of any guitar as part of a set-up service. You'll have to pay money for this, but it could potentially make your guitar a lot nicer to play!
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

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  • Question How can I make it easier? Community Answer Community Answer The easiest way to play it is just to bar the first fret on the E and B strings. You could also just play the F note (first fret on E string). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 13 Helpful 22
  • Question I've tried over and over, but I'm new at guitar and it sounds horrible! What can I do? Community Answer Community Answer Start off with more simple chords, then come back to the f chord. Practice is always very important as well. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 20
  • Question Every time I try to play the F cord, my fingers just won't stretch that far. My friend said that there is an easier way by using a guitar clip thing, although I forgot what it was called. Would that help? Community Answer Community Answer The "guitar clip thing" you mentioned is called a capo, and they're quite inexpensive. If you do use one, though, it's a bit of a hassle to use it and change the key of the whole song for one chord. There are many alternatives to playing the full barre chord. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 24
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Tips

  • When only barring the 1st and 2nd string, try not strumming the 6th and 5th string. Thanks Helpful 47 Not Helpful 12
  • To add a fuller sound barre the all of the strings and place your pinky on the 5th string (A) 3rd fret. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 5
  • Practice switching chords to get better at playing the F chord (ex/C, F, G chords). Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 7
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbFlPJqEgLI
  2. ↑ https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-dreaded-f-chord-bc-161
  3. ↑ https://guitardomination.net/8-ways-play-feared-f-chord-guitar-super-easy-advanced/
  4. Videos from GuitarLessons.com

About This Article

Nate Savage Co-authored by: Nate Savage Guitar Expert This article was co-authored by Nate Savage. Nate Savage is a professional guitarist with over 16 years of experience teaching guitar to students around the world. His YouTube channel, Guitareo, has over 450,000 subscribers. This article has been viewed 1,036,014 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 32 Updated: December 18, 2025 Views: 1,036,014 Categories: Guitar Chords Article SummaryX

To play an open F chord on the guitar, place your index finger on the first and second strings from the bottom on the first fret. Press your middle finger onto the third string on the second fret, then place your pinky finger on the fourth string on the third fret. Your ring finger should be on the fifth string on the third fret. If you need to, you can switch the position of your ring and pinky fingers. To learn more from our Guitarist co-author, like how to play an F barre chord, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Sally A.

    Sally A.

    Feb 17, 2017

    "I'm getting back into guitar after decades away. It was nice to see that I know these chords, makes me feel..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Nate Savage Co-authored by: Nate Savage Guitar Expert Click a star to vote Co-authors: 32 Updated: December 18, 2025 Views: 1,036,014 Sally A.

Sally A.

Feb 17, 2017

"I'm getting back into guitar after decades away. It was nice to see that I know these chords, makes me feel..." more John Bombardo

John Bombardo

Aug 31, 2019

"Been away from guitar for 30+ years and just getting back to it, having forgotten everything I knew. This was most..." more Donna Stain

Donna Stain

Jun 9, 2022

"I am a beginner guitar player can manage some chords but find the F chord difficult. This wikiHow is great. Thank..." more Rated this article: Drew Preston

Drew Preston

Jun 15, 2020

"I am an older 79 guy returning to the guitar. Fingers not as flexible as they once were, so your steps and video..." more Betty Smith

Betty Smith

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"Helped me greatly. I could not play a barre chord for the life of me before, and I was getting so mad. can play..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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