B2-0901 The F chord

[close2u]

Lesson link: https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/the-f-chord-b2-901

Questions ...

[skeldol]

So having learned F-Barre on my classical guitar I am now re-learning it on my new steel.

The classical guitar has a really wide neck.  To get the F-barre my finger tip is just over the top of the neck and my first knuckle just below the B string.

Playing F-barre on the steel I realize I need my first knuckle in the same poistion (just below B) but due to the smaller neck thist means my finger sticks over the stop a fair bit (the entire nail).  In justin's lesson on F barre he says try to not stick the finger above the neck too much else it makes it harder to learn other chord shapes with the barre.  I've spent some time trying to get F-barre with my finger tip around neck height but it aint happening.  Wondered what peoples thoughts are?

[tobyjenner]

Are you referring to the lesson in the BC or the 20 minute lesson in the Intermediate Course ?
If you've not watched the IM lesson I'd recommend it as it expands on what Justin teaches in the Dreaded F Chord lesson

https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-barre-chord-grips-im-111

Have you tried just barring with your index finger and no others ? Try that and roll the finger a little on its side and experiment with different positions. When you find a place where all six strings ring clean, try introducing the other fingers. May take some time but it'll help in the long run.

Cheers

Toby
 

[skeldol]

@ Toby


Hi thanks, I've only looked at the beginner so will try the intermediate.  I can get the F barre ringing out fine, it's more I wonder if my finger is positioned to high.  Think this post needs a picture!!



On my classical the index finger doesnt really go above the fret board but I find it has to on the steel, due to my long bony fingers .  Is this a problem???

[close2u]

@skeldol ... is the whole chord on all 6 strings ringing out clean? That is the main thing.
And with big hands, in the future, you may be blessed with the ability to play thumb over barre chords.

[DavidP]

I'm no expert skeldol ... 3.5 year beginner ... I don't think it matters if the tip of the index finger is above the neck. I think all that matters is that your finger is aligned so that the notes fretted with the barring finger are all clean.

Does look like the index and middle fingers are fretting on the fretwire, rather than positioned behind as close as possible, like the pinky but that may be camera angle ...

[tobyjenner]

Skeldol

As Close says, if it rings clean all is good. Doesn't look that excessive to me, so I'd stick with it for now.

Cheers

Toby
 

[skeldol]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  Yes all 6 notes ring out clean. Think it's just camera angle making it look like i'm on the frets.  I'll stick with this approach.

[Rexplosive]

So having learned F-Barre on my classical guitar I am now re-learning it on my new steel.

The classical guitar has a really wide neck.  To get the F-barre my finger tip is just over the top of the neck and my first knuckle just below the B string.

Playing F-barre on the steel I realize I need my first knuckle in the same poistion (just below B) but due to the smaller neck thist means my finger sticks over the stop a fair bit (the entire nail).  In justin's lesson on F barre he says try to not stick the finger above the neck too much else it makes it harder to learn other chord shapes with the barre.  I've spent some time trying to get F-barre with my finger tip around neck height but it aint happening.  Wondered what peoples thoughts are?

I had this same exact concern.  How has this panned out for you since August?

[skeldol]

Fine, I stopped worrying about it.  Overtime I think as technique improves you can move it a bit lower down.  I've shown my guitar teacher and he says its fine too.  I think we often over think these things as beginners.

[R.F.W.]

I had been struggling for months with the F chord on my electric and have been finding it easier to get the chord on my acoustic.

So today, I got the action lowered and bang! My 1st try and everything was happy again in the world. I was able to play an F chord on the electric

Now I just need to improve my changes between the F chord and other chords.


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[adi_mrok]

Fantastic stuff RFW, I remember like yesterday the first time all notes came out clear on my F chord, God I don't think I have ever felt more satisfied as a kid as back then now it's gonna only get easier

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[John S]

I guess I just need to keep at it, but I cant for the life of me get the B chord ringing out. Always sounds muted.

[JustMe123456]

For some reason I have less problem with the F barre chord than the baby F chord.
On a scale where things go wrong muting one of the strings, the baby F chord is at a 7 on scale of 10.
On F barre chord it's 3 on scale of 10.

Do I need to keep practicing the baby F chord......... or is it fine to just know the barre?

[DarrellW]

It can be, I usually use the barre chord because if I try to use the little F I get muted strings occasionally.
I don’t wrap my thumb round the neck either because I have small hands, it’s difficult for me to wrap my thumb around without muting the higher strings.

[DarrellW]

Do I need to keep practicing the baby F chord......... or is it fine to just know the barre?

There are occasions when it’s useful, but not at your level. I would carry on but not concentrate or stress about it, you will most likely find that it will just happen when your finger strength and technique improves; you will then wonder what all of the fuss was about!

[Ex-Calif]

For some long ago reason I learned to play the open E and Am with fingers 2-3-4.  As a kid it was all about learning Bar and Power chords so this formation made it easy to add the 1st finger Bar.

The E and Am formation is used a lot.

I am having more trouble with the mini-F but I am practicing a lot of C to F changes to learn what part of the fingertips to put down.

In the open position the mini-F usually makes the most sense because you aren't moving 1 fret up the guitar and getting out of position for all the other open chords we are practicing.

Dm and mini-F are my dragons to defeat...

[DarrellW]

Dm and mini-F are my dragons to defeat...

When I was early on in my learning (late teens) I had to learn House of the rising sun to jam with my friend that lived over the road, it was Dm F G Bb with the F G and Bb barre chords, talk about baptism of fire 😂😂😂  That said it made me use barre chords when I used to avoid them like the plague!
Playing it in Am made it so much easier!

[JustMe123456]

Okay, and do I also need to keep practicing the baby chord or is the barre F chord enough to know?

[DarrellW]

@Justme did you actually read #15?
I’ve already answered your question!

[Ex-Calif]

Wow! HOTRS - exact same reason I learned bar chords first 45 years ago - LOL

My opinion on mini F is don’t stop moving forward but keep practicing it. It is actually useful when playing in the open position.

C to mini F and A to mini F are good changes cuz you can use index finger as an anchor...

[JustMe123456]

@Justme did you actually read #15?
I’ve already answered your question!

Yeah I pressed reply and all of a sudden I had 10 new posts to read

[sairfingers]

I find that the 3 finger baby F sounds a bit weak and find the 4 finger x33211 sounds better. It also has the advantage that when changing quickly back and forward from C (which you get in a lot of songs) you can use your 3rd finger as an anchor.

When you progress to the full barre F you can continue to use your 3rd finger as an anchor when moving less quickly to/from C.

In other situations the full barre F is my preferred option.

Best to practise them all as they are all useful under different circumstances.

[Ex-Calif]

@sair - good tip..

I have been doing the xx3211 - I’ll try the x33211 as my fingers all ready do the x332 formation pretty reliably...

Part of it is the finger stretch that fingers 1 and 3 have to do. As a beginner it’s the first chord with a spread out reach and getting the finger curl right to avoid muting is tough.

As someone above said, bad action on the strings can make it harder...

[R.F.W.]

Youre really need to practice both the f barred and the mini F. Then you will have the choice to decide the best option for each song.



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