It is kicking my butt. I know practice makes for muscle memory etc. I just can't get it right. Any advice is welcome.
F Major Chord Ugggghhhh
I am just starting out. I have found that I can deal with the basic chords until I tried the F Major chord.
It is kicking my butt. I know practice makes for muscle memory etc. I just can't get it right. Any advice is welcome.
It is kicking my butt. I know practice makes for muscle memory etc. I just can't get it right. Any advice is welcome.
# 1
When I started playing I remember having a big problem with the F major chord. I think its a very common problem for beginners. Try using your index finger in different ways, i.e I tend to play F major almost with the side of my index finger if that makes sense. Another solution is to play a partial F major chord until you build up strength in your index finger. Instead of your index finger barring across all six strings, just barre the high E and B strings. You will eventually want to learn the full barre because you will need this skill in future for full barre chords, but this may get you started until you build up strength.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
# 2
make sure that your index finger is not sideways or slanted on the fret board.
and make your index finger be right next to fret along withe all your other
fingers.
and make your index finger be right next to fret along withe all your other
fingers.
# 3
I've picked up the guitar again after a 35-year 'break.' I don't have much trouble forming the F chord...just trouble getting the stings to sound clearly. :) But I recently found that making the chord 'fuller' by using my pinky to make the C on the 5th string 3rd fret somehow helps me bar the first fret of the first two strings.
Don't know why...just know that it works for me.
Don't know why...just know that it works for me.
"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time."
-- Chet Atkins
-- Chet Atkins
# 4
This might be something you already do but I'm still gone mention it ... just in case your a metal dude with your guitar at your knees :p I'm teasing you.
When you make bar chords, lower your thumb behind the neck. And if your guitar really is "at your knees", bring it up a bit (your guitar). It will be easier and you wont have arthritis later.
When you make bar chords, lower your thumb behind the neck. And if your guitar really is "at your knees", bring it up a bit (your guitar). It will be easier and you wont have arthritis later.
# 5
Originally Posted by: john of MTI've picked up the guitar again after a 35-year 'break.' I don't have much trouble forming the F chord...just trouble getting the stings to sound clearly. :) But I recently found that making the chord 'fuller' by using my pinky to make the C on the 5th string 3rd fret somehow helps me bar the first fret of the first two strings.
Don't know why...just know that it works for me.
Well...I blew that! Let me try again...my pinky on the 3rd fret, 4th string, ring finger on the 3rd fret, 5th string. IE, a F barre cord but the index finger bars only the first two strings.
Sorry 'bout that. :(
"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time."
-- Chet Atkins
-- Chet Atkins
# 6
I've been playing for 40 years and still haven't forgotten trying to play the F major bar chord for the first time. Stick with it! You'll get there.
# 7
I am a new player, and I was having a horrible time with the F Major chord.. till I realized that all of my problems were because i was tilting my guitar up to see the frets. I wonder how many new players are doing this as well.. try tilting your guitar to face forward where you should be playing it normally if you are having the same problem as me.
# 8
I was doing the same thing. Then I went to leaning over the guitar that caused back pain.. I finally got it right..
# 9
One of my students was VERY frustrated with the F chord. He couldn't barre the first two strings and play it cleanly. He couldn't barre the whole chord either.
The main reason was because his hand position and thumb position was totally wrong. So, I got him to make this chord instead:
Fmaj7sus4#
0
0
2
3
3
1
It has a really great sound, AND when you make this shape, your fingers will be so perfect in position... :)
You can also move that chord up and down the fretboard to make really cool sounding chords!
The main reason was because his hand position and thumb position was totally wrong. So, I got him to make this chord instead:
Fmaj7sus4#
0
0
2
3
3
1
It has a really great sound, AND when you make this shape, your fingers will be so perfect in position... :)
You can also move that chord up and down the fretboard to make really cool sounding chords!
Matteo Miller-Nicolato
Free Progressive Metal-Jazz-Punk Fusion Music
www.matteomillernicolato.com/Music.html
San Diego School of Guitar
Free Guitar Playing Instructional Resources
www.guitarlessonsinsandiego.com/Resources.html
Free Progressive Metal-Jazz-Punk Fusion Music
www.matteomillernicolato.com/Music.html
San Diego School of Guitar
Free Guitar Playing Instructional Resources
www.guitarlessonsinsandiego.com/Resources.html
# 10
Originally Posted by: Matteo MillerOne of my students was VERY frustrated with the F chord. He couldn't barre the first two strings and play it cleanly. He couldn't barre the whole chord either.
The main reason was because his hand position and thumb position was totally wrong. So, I got him to make this chord instead:
Fmaj7sus4#
0
0
2
3
3
1
It has a really great sound, AND when you make this shape, your fingers will be so perfect in position... :)
You can also move that chord up and down the fretboard to make really cool sounding chords!
This is a good way to do it. F Major is the hardest of the barre chords IMO. After you get this you can practice barring down the first 2 strings.
# 11
Thanks to John from MT , using my pinky one the 3rd fret- 4th string helps to keep from rolling my hand back . Making headway now, but had to put guitar down for a while - fingers sore. Am Beginner and fingers are still not quite tough enough .
# 12
I had a lot of trouble with this at first too, until I just started doing the full barre form and then it started working a lot better.
Pretty much just find the most comfortable way to do it and make sure your thumb is in the right spot to aid in providing power to your grip and that should get things ringing out clearly.
Pretty much just find the most comfortable way to do it and make sure your thumb is in the right spot to aid in providing power to your grip and that should get things ringing out clearly.
# 13
Originally Posted by: GibsonDoolsI am just starting out. I have found that I can deal with the basic chords until I tried the F Major chord.
It is kicking my butt. I know practice makes for muscle memory etc. I just can't get it right. Any advice is welcome.
The strings at the first few frets are actually harder to press down because they are so close to the nut, so you could "build up" to the F-bar chord by playing bar chords higher up on the neck and getting used to performing the technique correctly, and then once you have the technique correct, you can start working on strength and moving it down the neck. Another option is to use lighter string gauge. Heavier strings sound better in my opinion, but there is a price to pay with the bigger sound... So possibly switch out to lighter strings for now while you are getting used to the proper technique.
www.jamesericksonmusic.com
# 14
Originally Posted by: GibsonDoolsI am just starting out. I have found that I can deal with the basic chords until I tried the F Major chord.
It is kicking my butt. I know practice makes for muscle memory etc. I just can't get it right. Any advice is welcome.
If the problem is that strings are not sounding good, practice your barre seperately. If the problem is that you need A LOT of time to put your fingers in F major position than practice changing to F major and from F major from/to different chords you already know.
# 15