Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you want to know how to play the easy beginner guitar F chord without a barre? Learning F on the guitar has long been a rite of passage for guitarists. Why? The barre makes it difficult to play, keeping many beginner guitarists from being able to play many otherwise simple songs. Keep reading to learn how to play the easy F chord on guitar.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
How to Play the Easy Beginner Guitar F Chord Without a Barre: The Introductions Please!
The F chord on guitar has the notes: F A C.
- On the diagrams below, you can see that some of the versions double up notes.
- The F barre is the most difficult. You’d need a first finger barre across all six strings. (See the hand diagram for the finger numbers.) This makes it moveable.
- Any chord can be moveable as long as it doesn’t use open strings.
- What makes it a barre (pronounced “bar”) is when one finger plays notes on more than one string.
- Even though “open” F is grouped with the open chords, it is in fact moveable and has a small barre on the thinnest two strings.
Most beginner guitarists find it’s hard to play F because of the barre. The easy F chord avoids this problem by eliminating the barre.
How Does the Easy F Chord Work on the Guitar Neck
- Put your pointer finger (#1) on the second string, first fret.
- Put your middle finger (#2) on the third string, second fret.
- Put your ring finger (#3) on the fourth string, third fret.
- Try to angle your pointer finger enough to mute the open first string. If you don’t, the extra note will add a jazzy sound.
- In addition, make sure to arch your fingers, placing them just behind the frets, and put your thumb on the back of the guitar neck opposite your fingers.
Mobile users: for a close-up view of the diagrams, rotate your screen 90o to the right.
Hand Icon (churien.deviantart.com/art/hand-template-blank-272630198) by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Modified by Geoffrey Keith.
How to Play the Easy Beginner Guitar F Chord Without a Barre: Other Easy to Play Chords
As you can see, the easy F chord is a lot easier to play than the other versions that have a barre:
- However, if you’re brand new to guitar, you might want to start with chords that use only one finger or only open strings.
- I use them a lot when teaching kids and have even used them with adults as an introduction.
- In addition, I use color coding when teaching young kids and special needs kids. For more information: click here.
Easy Guitar Songs
Make sure you use the easy versions from the diagrams above when playing from these lead sheets:
- He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
- Hound Dog
- Kumbaya
- La Bamba
- When the Saints Go Marching In
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken
- You Are My Sunshine
Notes:
- He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands has the simplest chords, so I suggest you start with that one.
- If you don’t know a song’s melody, search for it on YouTube so you can get it in your ear.
- Skip the C7 and C#7 in Hound Dog.
Final Thoughts on “How to Play the Easy Beginner Guitar F Chord Without a Barre”
The F chord is tricky on guitar because of the barre. However, the easy version eliminates the barre, making it accessible for beginners.
- Anything worth doing takes effort.
- So, make sure you put in your practice time.
- Have patience, if you practice, you will improve.
Have fun playing!
Related Posts
- Online Tuner (Special Tunings)
- Harmonic Progressions (Including the 12 Bar Blues)
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Back to the All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category blogs page
Glossary
Symphony Meaning: Definition, Videos, and a Quick Guide
Do you want to know the symphony definition and meaning? Would you like a quick guide on where to start listening? The orchestra has a rich history spanning hundreds of years with tons of fun pieces to listen to and enjoy. Keep reading “Symphony Meaning: Definition, Videos, and a Quick Guide” to dip your toes in the orchestral waters. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
50 Essential Music Symbols Explained in Less Than 5 Minutes
Do you get confused when you look at sheet music? Do you want to know what the music symbols mean? The visual-score-guides paired with quick explanations will help you understand the music notation. Keep reading “50 Essential Music Symbols Explained in Less Than 5 Minutes” to find the symbols listed by notation category. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
Can Someone Explain Roman Numeral Analysis in Layman’s Terms for Me? (Part 1)
“Can someone explain Roman Numeral Analysis in layman's terms for me?” The Roman numerals you see in music might seem arcane. However, once you get a handle on them, they can really help your understanding of music. Click to have the secrets of music theory explained in simple terms. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
What Are Some Signs of a Twice Exceptional (2E) Child?
“What are some signs of a twice exceptional (2E) child?” Children with both giftedness and learning disabilities are called twice exceptional. In other words, twice exceptional children will pick up some things really quickly - much more quickly than typical learners. However, with other things they will lag way behind their typical learner peers – sometime by a significant amount. Read more to learn the signs of a twice exceptional child. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More