F major

[ASPdeath5859]

Right now I'm using an acoustic. It seems that I'm unable to play that chord w/o major handcramps. Mainly, my pointer finger is unable to hold the high E string. My hands are kinda small. Got any ideas?

[julie4bama]

I also had the same problem when I first started to learn that chord, but now I play it with ease. The thing that helped me the most is Lisa McCormick's spider fingers exercises. They help build strength and reach. Check them out, and you will see significant improvement within a few days. Good luck and happy guitar playing. Here is the link to these exercises:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=621

[KFS1972]

what I found that made the open Fmaj easier was to stop trying to ONLY hold the high E and B strings with the pointer. Instead I lay it where it is more comfortable, usually across four strings instead of only two.

The down-side of this is that switching to other chords may require more pointer-finger movement.

[Vino_nj]

I also had the same problem when I first started to learn that chord, but now I play it with ease. The thing that helped me the most is Lisa McCormick's spider fingers exercises. They help build strength and reach. Check them out, and you will see significant improvement within a few days. Good luck and happy guitar playing. Here is the link to these exercises:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=621


I got so frustrated at the F major today...I'm so glad I decided to look at forum and found this...I see the light at the end of the tunnel

[LisaMcC]

Hey all-

The first chords I ever learned, in this order, were: C, then G, then F.

C, okay. G, okay with effort. But F???

I thought "F" was surely an evil joke. TWO strings, ONE finger? Grr.

Some really good tips have been offered already in this discussion.

Let me just add that you want to try to angle your index (pointer) finger in such a way that the bonier part of it (thumb-side) is pressing down those double strings. It may end up crossing the fret space at a 45 degree angle (or so), but that is the trick to getting the consistent pressure out of that finger to accomplish the challenge of the F chord.

If you just lay the soft fleshy part of your index finger across the double strings, it puts the rest of your fingers at a compromised angle. Also, the fleshy stuff just doesn't have the "oomph" you need in that particular situation.

Let me know your thoughts as you try this out - Lisa

[1Life1Chance]

i've been playing for probably around 15 years with very few lessons and am far from an expert. i would consider myself an intermediate player always looking to improve. i still find the F major to be more difficult than the rest but not too much of a problem anymore. 1 thing that i do find is that it is much easier for me to just finger the full F major barre chord rather than just the top 4 strings. i don't know why but it works for me. It may have to do with the positioning of the thumb and how much clamping action you can get. Also, as someone said above experiment with the angle of your index finger. a slight roll of the finger may make a big difference.

[LisaMcC]

Hi 1Life,

True, I have known other guitar players who find the full F barre chord a better fit for them than the 4-string version.

Hey, each of our fingerprints are unique. I guess our hands probably are too.

[AustinGal]

F major and switching between full chords were the road blocks I hit in lessons. I got frustrated and decided I was just not meant to play until I found this site and decided to try the lessons in a more private setting. I was so embarassed in lessons because I just could not do it. I was so happy to do the lessons with the simple chords because no one had shown me that before. But then I go to the full chords again and here I am again stuck on F major.

[julie4bama]

Hang in there AustinGal. with practice and the use of Lisa's spider fingers exercises you will get there. Just keep on practicing.

[LisaMcC]

Hey AustinGal,

There is so much that can be played and enjoyed on the guitar that does not necessitate a good clear F major barre chord. Keep the F on your practice list, and meanwhile, continue to learn and enjoy the things that come more easily to you. The guitar is a universe of possibilities - don't let one chord get you down too much.

-Lisa

(PS- have you joined us on the GT Guitar Women Facebook Group yet? We'd love to have you join us)

[AustinGal]

I'll keep practicing. It's nice to know that others believe eventually it will come. I did just start with the spider fingers exercise. It was very helpful both in that tutorial and Chris' fundamentals class to understand the correct placement or use of the thumb. When I first began learning I thought my hands were way too small but I realize now my reach is much better than I thought if I don't try to wrap my thumb around the neck. The guys with huge hands that were teaching me did not see what I was doing and did not go into such detail on the small things that can make such a difference. I'm learning so much more since I have joined the full access and started the GT lessons. Thanks for the great tips.

[Pete Kimbrell]

Do you have the same problem playing a G major as a barre chord? I know it sounds slightly different, but if you can play the G major barre, just slide down 2 frets and there's your F major. I often have a very hard time with B major because I have large fingers and it's hard to squeeze 3 of them right next to each other. The way I learned all the major chordes was to develop a nice sounding strum pattern and just strum up the major chords in order. It helped me not only develop the finger patterns, but also helped a lot with the chord changes.

[AustinGal]

Well, F is the first chord I have tried in which I need to hold 2 strings with one finger. I haven't gotten far enough along to know barre chords. My index finger is too small to use the tip and cover both strings but when I use the pad I have trouble curling the other two finger high enough. When I curl the other fingers the index pressure comes off the first two strings. <sigh> But speaking of the G Major, I also would have less trouble using the ring finger rather than the pinky on the high E. Or if I use the pinky on high E I want to use the Ring finger instead of the Middle on the low E. Is there a reason I should not do that.

[mecarm]

Why do they have this chord! I just can't seem to get it clear! @$#@%@^#&@@!^% I guess eventually I will.

[Razbo]

A couple of thoughts that might help.

For the 2-string-index-F-chord, if I try to hold my index finger vertical on the B & E strings, it is a hard chord to do because my hand just doesn't flex well into that exact position. I keep my index pad at a slight angle over the strings. There is lots of room in that first fret to find a comfortable position!

On G chords. I've seen people play them different ways, pinky on the G, ring on the G, holding the G & E with pinky & ring, etc. In the end, if you can efficiently make that or any chord using whatever fingers you wish, it is fine. Practicing all positions is best, because there are some progressions, and chord ad libbing that work easier from one position vs. another, and some songs (Pink Floyd comes to mind) just need to have that B & E string held down.

My approach (and I am no expert, but I think lazy sometimes translates to efficiency! :D)) is generally to practice using fewest fingers necessary, to use the position that is most comfortable, and to play using the most efficient position (which is situational).

[Jason_Dionne]

Use thiner string guages maybe. Tha way if you use thinner string guages you dont have to put as much pressure as if you had thicker string guages. And use less tension while holding that chord.

[1Life1Chance]

i'd also say to practice the same chord shape just further down the neck. You should find it a bit easier. Then continue to practice and work your way back to the F. Also if you get too frustrated you can cheat a bit by playing more of a power chord to get through a song. Just make sure you continue to practice it. It may take a long time (possibly a year or more) depending on how much you practice. Part of it is building calluses in the right spots on that index finger. One of those finger exercisers might also help. i think it's called the grip master. you know the thing you squeeze for finger strength.

[Jason Vearing]

The other thing to do is play an Fmaj7 until your finger strength improves. This chord is 0 0 3 2 1 0. The open thin e string gives it the maj7 sound which does sound a little different to a true f but you can get away with it. If it doesn't sound passable to you dont play that high e note.

Also, if you are able you can wrap your thumb around so that you can play the chord like this

1 0 0 3 2 1 0 to get that F note in the bass.

[CSchlegel]

FWIW - I have extensively covered problems with the F & B major chords for beginners here in my instructor forum:

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28207

[SlickString]

I also had the same problem when I first started to learn that chord, but now I play it with ease. The thing that helped me the most is Lisa McCormick's spider fingers exercises. They help build strength and reach. Check them out, and you will see significant improvement within a few days. Good luck and happy guitar playing. Here is the link to these exercises:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=621

I found this tutorial OK by following the link but I probably wouldn't have found it otherwise as I can't see it on the list of lessons shown here -

http://www.guitartricks.com/lessons.php

This seems odd and I'm just wondering if there are more tutorials that I might not be able to see unless I'm given a link to them.

Hope someone can help!

Thanks

Jim

[AustinGal]

Today something magic happened when I got into position to practice the evil F chord - all the notes rang clear! I can now play it in isolation - not in time with any speed on the met yet, but still I am so excited. The trick for me was Lisa's suggestion of getting the bonier side of the finger on the E and B strings and not the pad. Also, for days I actually talked out loud to my fingers. Index lie flat and at an angle. Ring arch up higher and don't touch the B string. I did this over and over again for days and this morning it rang out on the first try. BTW, next lesson was the B chord which Chris made a much bigger deal about - I got it first try. I guess small fingers have an advantage on the chords with three notes on a single fret. Our fingers fit in the space much easier.

[CSchlegel]

... I'm just wondering if there are more tutorials that I might not be able to see unless I'm given a link to them.
I use this page that lists all currently available tutorials:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorials.php

[LisaMcC]

YAY AustinGal!!

That is so cool. I love your "talk to the fingers" thing too! That's terrific - and very smart.

Congrats on your magic breakthrough!

[Mike51]

For beginners everywhere that have problems with the F chord know that you are not alone, and that you are not the first.

Anyone that plays the guitar that says they never had problems with the F chord as a beginner is either lying to you, or lying to themselves.

The good news is that with time, it comes. There is no right way to play it for everyone. Standard way as they show you in the pictures, full barre, half barre. Everyone will figure it out.

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. In the meantime if it is part of a song that you are working on there is no harm in using the Fmaj7 which will fit the song no problems. Here is the tab.

E---0---
B---1---
G---2---
D---3---
A---x---
E---x---

The open E on the top is the 7th of the F scale (F G A Bb C D E)
This chord differs from an F7 as in plain 7th chords the 7th scale tone is a flatted 7th (7b)

I know as beginners a lot of heads might be spinning but a little theory never hurts.

[Jason_Dionne]

Try a gripmaster. Your local guitar store should own this. It's a device that helps your hands get stronger.

[Lou Lombardi]

Ya just gotta keep playing it. I've been playing for over 20 years and "bar" chords still fatigue my left hand when I have to play a lot of them in a song. "F" is particularly tough because it's in the first position where the frets are the farthest apart. It's right next to the nut where more hand strength is needed to press the strings down anyway. This all ads up to a big "Ouch!"

It helps me to think of the strength or "energy" as coming from my bicep as opposed to the wrist or hand. Be careful with the hand cramps. Take frequent breaks to rub your wrist, gently shake it and then resume practicing. NEVER play through a cramp. Tendinitis is not something you want to have to deal with.

As a professional player for many years now I use very few full bar chords. I'm always looking for smaller voicings that "sit" in the mix and compliment the other players and the song.