Getting the B stringing out clearly is one of the most common struggles with the F chord. Pressing those strings down near the nut is definitely a challenge!
Experiencing this usually means you're not pressing the barre hard enough. You might need to build up some finger strength! And you'll develop that as you practice.
In this lesson, let's check-in on the F chord and see how it's coming along. I'll give practical tips and exercises to help you improve this tricky chord. :)
For the F chord, you’ve got your 1st finger barring over the 1st fret. Barring down with your finger pressing down all the strings is a common challenge. It could mean that the nut on your guitar is a touch too high.
Your guitar nut raises the strings further away from the fretboard, making them harder to press down. The closer to the nut you are, the harder it will be. To try this, shift the F chord up to the 5th fret. It'll be easier to get a solid grip further away from the nut.
You might find that it’s a little more difficult for you to play up there. Since you’re engaging different muscles in your hand, practice it for a few days.
It's common to play the chord on the 5th fret correctly but still struggle on the 1st. You might need to take your guitar in to have the nut sanded down a touch. A good guitar setup can make a world of difference!
🚨 A cheap guitar with a good setup is often better than an expensive one with a bad setup. It can affect the sound of the instrument. Most importantly, it can affect your playing.
To practice shifting the F chord, slide your fingers up to either the 3rd or the 5th fret. Choose whichever feels more comfortable with your wrist. The barre should be easier to press down.
When shifting the F chord to alternative frets - we're getting into barre chord territory - which is intermediate-level material. This lesson is an introduction to what's to come! That way, you'll know what to expect.
So - keep working on these barre chords. They're essential to play loads of songs! As you advance, you’ll be using them more often. In some cases, you may even prefer them over the open chords.
At your beginner guitar stage focus on open chords and F chords and making them strong. It'll make it easier as you progress. But, it's also time to be fearless and explore moving your barre chord around.
Watch the video to see how you can move your barre chord around the Note Circle. Sound pretty awesome, right?
So - keep working on the F chord changes and putting big barre chord F in a song or two. But start becoming aware of a different approach to barre chords.
Got any F chord tips? Login to your account and share them on the discussion board. And you can visit the JustinGuitarCommunity for advice from fellow guitar students following the course.
