That Darn "F" Chord | Tom Strahle | Easy Guitar | Basic Guitar | Barre Chords
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Tips for getting that "F" chord down...
1. Keep index finger straight
2. Keep thumb behind neck
3. Keep your palm away from the neck
4. Pluck notes one at a time with barre
5. Keep index finger just behind the fret
6. Practice changing from "F" to other chords.
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What a fantastic tutorial. I've struggled with Barre chords for a long time. Thanks for the tips, they really helped me. 🎸
The tips about how to hold the guitar neck while doing this F chord are pure gold!!
Yay!
If you move the guitar to your left leg, into the classical position, Barre chords are soooo much easier😁 As a short female, with small hands and a large bust, I found it MUCH more comfortable to learn guitar in the classical position, and trying it switched onto my right knee, wow, I can't get into a position to play the barre chords, even tho I have no trouble the other way! It also puts you at a different angle to do the half roll on your index finger, to get on the bony part, to get more pressure 😁💖 I'm always envious of the long beautiful fingers you guys have, I can barely cover the neck when I barre, whereas, y'all usually have finger length to spare, lol!😂😁💖
Great tip. I hope a lot of viewers see this.
I can relate to the small hands and large bust problem.....and I have a 12-string 😂
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks
I’m a 74-year-old beginner. Back when dinosaurs were small I only played chords that were relatively easy and played F by just closing the high E and B with a finger tip I never learned to play barre chords. This time I am really trying to learn to play them. My arthritic left hand hurts every day. This tip, I think, might help me - I have never seen that before. Great idea and thanks1
I am back in the game!!! After watching this, I can now play the stinkin' F Chord.
Thank you Tom!!!!!!
Yay mission accomplished!
Took me years because I avoided any song with barre chords. Then decided to keep on practising on songs I really liked that had barre chords, and bingo, got it eventually. !
OMG I bought my very first guitar yesterday and I was doing ok with barre chords with my ukulele but this F chord is the devil incarnate.... I will practice for years if needed to achieve my goal !
You will get it, I have faith in you!
Because I always believed it was just me who was rubbish at bar chords, I didn't think I could be a good guitarist so I've only ever dabbled from time to time. Seeing this video has given me a bit of encouragement (even at the age of 57) to go for it because if a guitarist who is clearly as accomplished and amazing as you are struggles with bar chords, I might just be a little better than I think I am. I have to agree with Matt Allen; I wish I'd had been taught this a long time ago. Great video and thank you so much :)
Some are even well past 57, and just beginning. So you already have a 'head start'! Now, go grab that guitar and 'git ta pickin'! 👍
Buddy helps, so much. Your style gives me confidence to continue. I'm a lefty with never damage in my right hand, from a break, very challenging, even painful at times, keeps me going. After 5 months, I do practice everyday, I at least know my fretboard and the notes. I'll just start at the top first string, F,G,A etc all the way down, then start at top on next string, work my way down. Seems to helps.
Thanks, man!
I thought I really sucked and horrible at guitar because I found it hard to play F chord and I used to cringe whenever I found songs with F chord. So glad that I wasn't the only one with this problem.
Thanks for sharing it with us. This is really helpful
Thank you Tom, I have solely played acoustic guitar and have struggled with this. I have had the action lowered and used other tips as well (more pressure with the right elbow to increase forward pressure of the fret board towards the fingers).
But the piece of advice that finally really helped me was the ergonomics; getting the palm of my left hand lower, almost under the guitar neck really helped. Thanks.
I never thought about the hand scrunching up like that...or just never thought of it that way. Makes sense and really helps..thanks man
It's such a shame so many great teachers failed to simplify the F chord on UA-cam! The great thing is, you sir, are the best thing that happened to the F chord teaching :) your approach to practice barring the entire 1st. Fret with the index or 1st. finger & ring out all the strings to build up the strength & then add the remaining fingers neandering towards the F chord is the most effective way. It's like trying to walk Miriam's Irish Doberman on a straight line across the park PS don't ask me who Miriam is :) - anyway don't show interest you wanna walk across the park on a straight like because that stubborn mutt will ruin your day. Instead, pretend you're not very interested in doing what you're trying to do & cheat your way there. Equally, beginners who try to play F chord directly will be disappointed & will probably daunted by it for a long time if not forever that's why it's important to NOT teach beginners how to attempt the F chord directly - teach them how to bar first & then add the rest of the fingers forming the E chord shape which they'd have already learnt to finally attempt the F chord.
Thanks for the kind words Franck! Who's Miriam? Just kidding.
Thanks Man! I'm watching it right now
Thanks thanks thanks. That bit about keeping finger straight and position of thumb helped.
When I learned to play, back in the 1960s, the old books and chord charts did not form the F chord as a bar chord. It was formed on the lower 5 strings and the top string just hung out there free. What everyone complained about then was learning to hit just the 5 bottom strings alone!
Super. I made a clean F Barre chord for the first time thanks to this video. Thank you!!
Thank u, thank u, my f chord sounds exactly like the one with all the dulled notes and I suck. Unless I like specifically place each finger in exactly the right position and then play. But that e chord shape thing really helps, now I kind of get it.
Best video yet on F chord thanks.
Thank you for your sharing. Simple, clear and very useful. Totally understandable also to a non English speaker like me.
I learned a lot! Switched to 3/4 years ago. Take care of your thumbs, Kids!
One thing that also helps is keeping your chording arm (usually left, but sometimes right if you’re a lefty) in against
your body. You do not want your elbow to fly out; keep it against your side. Add that to these great tips and you’ll
do better with those pesky barre chords. There suck on acoustic! But they’re a necessary part of playing guitar.
Wonderful video, I'm 14 months on my guitar adventure, your friendly presentational style has not only helped me to understand how to sort this barre chord, it also made me happy that there are more lovely people in the world :)
I love your recent videos geared toward us non-professionals. You have an incredible way of explaining things and I absolutely love your videos despite not being a pro. Thanks!
Thanks Thomas. Sorry so many of my videos are "over the heads" of many of my new subscribers. But I do have several more videos planned for my new subscribers and my hope is that some of my "Pro Guitar Secrets" videos become useful too!
Someone who's not a big head for a change, nice chap. Most teachers on here show you something and then all of a sudden they start playing the lead break for Sultans Of Swing or something, I'll subscribe Tom.
Fantastic once i knew it was an E major chord i only had to concentrate on the index finger thanks for making it easier
Awesome.
I've been playing the first position F chord pretty successfully for over 55 years now. However, I can still remember the bugaboo this chord caused early on. Take heart beginners, you can do it. Thanks for the hints.
How long did it take you to get the F chord down and barre chords and start playing smoothly? I just started lessons 2 weeks ago and practice at least close to 4 hours a day
The video helped a lot. I'm getting better at forming a good sounding F but transitioning into it quickly will take a lot of work. No substitute for practice. I never catch on real quickly to new techniques. Keep the videos coming that are designed to help beginners/ barely intermediates. You've helped me out.
Thanks, Tom! I found a starting place for my journey toward being a guitar hobbyist. I finally get to learn an instrument for fun, with no career aspirations attached; It's a different and more fervent passion! I'm so thrilled you will be there (on video) to guide me - as I will be working through your videos. You are a gifted teacher! (BTW - we used to play together at Eagle Rock Baptist - I was the bassist) I've been retired from music for almost 20 years now!
I’m trying to teach myself the f barre chord and this was very helpful. Having a tough time but I will use these tips for sure! Thank you! 👍🏻
You got this!
Nice lesson. Beginner here 🙋🏻♀️. So far, peeking at videos on this chord I haven’t understood if the index finger acts like a capo, or just holds the E strings. So thank you for clearing that up and making learning and practicing this chord a possibility for me.
EXCELLENT TUTORIAL. Thanks for sharing your talent, experience and knowledge!
You are welcome!
Super tutorial! Thanks a lot. I will vanquish that F... one day!
I took guitar lessons when I was young for nearly 2 years and never progressed beyond beginner. Because; a) my guitar teacher was intent on teaching me how to read music, and b) I could never get the F chord to sound right.
I gave up taking lessons and when I came back to guitar I was a confirmed 'self taught' guy. I learned to be a pretty good open chord strummer and played my favorites like the Beatles and the Eagles, etc.
Along the way I figured out a lot for myself, learning to cheat the 'F' and other shortcuts. You are the first UA-cam lesson guy who teaches the way that I had been figuring it out for myself (though your ways are clearer and quicker).
I am subbing and I think your lessons are going to help me move onto the next stage of guitar.
Sincerely, another lazy guitar player.
Thanks for this video.
Every time I saw F I always said he same thing as the title but after watching this and practicing and troubleshooting i eventually started to get better.
What a great lesson Tom! I am one of those "7 tips for older beginners". Everybody teaches that the capo is to match a singers range to the guitar, but your take on using the capo to play difficult chords in another key blew me away. The D shape is one of the most user friendlies, I may go back and try a few Fleetwood Mac songs that I quit on because of the F chord variations involved.
Really nice explanation, thanks, Tom. A good song that uses both the dreaded "F" and the nearly as dreaded B flat is Space Oddity (David Bowie). The famous lick in the middle of the song is a great example of what you are talking about with regards to the barre cord moving up and down the fret to make other chords.
Excellent tips for the most pesky of pesky chords makes a massive difference being able to barre
Just found your channel and like it a lot. I've been "practicing" for 40 years now, but I'm still a hack... LOL. It's ok cause I still enjoy it. I know most all of my open chords, the 1-4-5 progression, 12 bar blues and the minor pentatonic scales. I have been force feeding myself the F barre chord for a few months now and am making some progress. I learned to time changing between 2 different chords for 1 minute. Over time you can see qualitative progress and is good positive reinforcement. It is really difficult for me to find people to play with though. Look forward to watching more of your videos.
Very well explained and demonstratef. Thank you.
I love the way you explain things, i can do my F barre chord now from this video.. thank you sir
Yes...you explained that well and was helpful. Thanks for sharing
I agree..He is very understandable
Yes it has helped thank you
Excellent pointers. I don't use them bar chords cuz they just hurt too much... but I'll try em again since you showed that there's 48 of em! Thanks for telling the truth "it's NOT fun" practicing them changes. (My hand just aches after 20 seconds of Blue Jean Blues)
so helpful ...thank you!
Thanks so much. Great tips, good advice, and good common guitar playing sense, easily explained. Thanks again!!
Thank you! This was a big help.
Thank you a bunch for the precious tips!
Thank you! Good lesson on the "F" chord 🎶
Thanks Tom for the obvious pointers...I realized after u said u only basically Barre the top strings and two bottom in reality.,cause the E shape is already pushing the strings.so u don't have to strain as much as u think ..I actually did a real barre chord yay ....great video
Exactly sir. Thanks for watching.
Thank you. I thought I was the only one having an F problem!
That helps. My guitar teacher wanted me to play Nights in White Satin as my first song, insisting on using the F barre chord. He also insisted I put my elbow out , not in towards my body. It didn't happen. I couldn't get the song done.
Thank you ... this was very helpful
I’m glad.
You’re a fantastic guitar player. I just started three weeks ago, hope to transition as smooth as you someday. Thanks for your insight.
I suppose if you really think about it all scales and all chords, including open ones, are moveable, you just imagine your finger (or capo) is the nut, although some chord shapes are really awkward, the two chords most beginners hate, B major and F major for example are an A and an E chord respectively moved up a whole step and this helps you find a B# or an F minor or any permutation! Great videos, I wish I had known half this stuff in the beginning, it wouldn't have been so frustrating!
While B major is a whole step up from A major, F is only a half step up from E
I've only been playing a short time. I practice barre chord scales everyday. Within 30 days I was barring with ease. It works! Just a suggestion.☮️😎
Great job!
@@TomStrahle Thanks!!! I'm having fun. I also do fingers on the chord/fingers off without strumming which helps a lot. Plus+....it keeps the neighbors happy if I just can't keep my hands off my guitar in the middle of the night!!! I thank you and all the gifted people who share their 'secret powers' lol. Keep up the greatness!😎 ~mary
I think I might be able to get that darn F chord now.
I’ve been told that I’m a good instructor but man you have hit the sweet spot with this instructional video. Thank you very much!
Raising the guitar's neck up, (even just slightly), will lessen the angle of your wrist and thus, lessen the strain of playing an 'F' barre cord, as well.
Huge tip. Thank you. Should have said something. Standard classical guitar technique.
And making funny faces at the same time also helps.
I'm so jealous of everyone who can change chords so quickly. Very BIG hurdle for us beginners. Like a 10' tall hurdle that currently seems impossible. But, I'm hoping it gets a little easier.
You're not alone, this is frustratingly difficult. I won't quit though lol
Reason why you have so much trouble with bar chords is the same reason you can't change chords quickly, and that's because strumming has taught you bad habits in playing guitar. Learn from a classical guitarist the proper way to hold a guitar, and suddenly your chord changes become light and fast, and are chords are nothing. What I mean by properly holding a guitar is not the more vertical position used by classical guitarists though; but by the tension necessary in the right arm required to finger pick quickly. That tension restricts the motion of the right hand so as to make finger picking reliable and accurate. The tension secures the guitar in a locked position, which frees the left hand from most if not all stabilizing the guitar. The stabilizing of the guitar with the left hand is what's causing the tension in the left hand and slowing chord changes and along bar chords hard to do. To create proper stabilization, use the right elbow to press the guitar into the body. You know you have enough tension if you can then completely release the left hand from the guitar, and use only the right hand to then pick arpeggios. Once proper stabilization has been achieved, you don't really need your thumb to do any chords, your left hand simply dances across the fret board. Also, the locking of the right elbow in place now affords it a fixed pivot to strum...instead of the wild sloppy strumming of the usual acoustic guitarist.
It does get easier. Anyything in ife is difficult at first but if you keep at it, it gets easier. Practice makes improvement. I hope you haven't given up and have mastered changing between the basic open chords.
It's the B chord kills me!
play it with 2 fingers, I found it much easier. I have big hand and cant put 3 fingers there. :)
It's very helpful sir 👍
You are great teacher, these are great tips, I also love your alt tuning lessons
Thanks Albert!
I like your style of teaching
Hey, those were great tips! Thanks! And yes, I too are having trouble with the F barre chord. It is a must-have-chord to use in many great songs. Thanks Tom! New subscriber
Thank you!
That Darn F chord, you are being far too polite. I could think of a lot stronger words for the F chord, possibly beginning with letter F. Nevertheless a great video, with brilliant tips. Thank you.
Did you see my follow up? That son of a B chord?
@@TomStrahle Not as yet, but I certainly will be looking at that video.
Frustrating?
that darn f chord i hat the most
@@lionelestevens5217 What about F#? Perfectly nice chord, or Bb?
thank you great video.
Don't have many subscribers and came across this by chance, but really good tutorial! You definitely deserve more subscribers!
Well hopefully I have one more in you!
Well presented. Thank you and cheers from Ottawa, Canada.
Thanks Tom! You've just givrn me some confidence. Thanks for your excellent lesson.
You are welcome!
Excellent. Thank you.
You are very welcome.
Thank you, I will be practicing this soon . Blessings 👍😍
Ugh the F chord!! Lol!! Ty for sharing!!
Really helpful video, I can now actually play the F chord thanks to your tips :) From a beginner guitar player and new subscriber.
Thank You, I found that very helpful. 😀🎸
Thanks Colin. Join the livestream if you can Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am Pacific.
@@TomStrahle With F bar chord, do I press all the 6 strings with my index finger?
@@ojsojs6004 In a perfect world yes but I think I give some cheater chords in this video.
Though it's a cheat, it is absolutely fine to play an F chord only holding down the two high strings on 1st fret, the fourth string on 2nd fret and the third string on 3rd fret and simply don't strum the two open strings. For me it was useful while still learning and still is if the chord progression is a very fast swap between several chords. You do lose some bottom end on your sound because you don't play the 2 open low strings but it sounds quite nice regardless.
it also helps to tuck your elbow into your chest. makes the hand pivot for a straighter shot at the frets
Yeah, I thought of that at the end of the video. Made a passing reference. But modeled it throughout. Good catch.
Thanks Tom. keep up the great work. I especially like the tips for "Older Beginners."
I'm not sure how I stumbled on your channel, but it is great. Thank you very much.
I think you are a great teacher. Very good tips, that I have already learn t. But it is helpful to recap. Very clear and has a logical progression. Thank you. I was surprised that James Taylor uses a capo. He is the guitar player that inspires me the most. Great down to earth guy. And amassing songs. His guitar work speaks to my soul. Cheers, Brent
This was very informative! Thank you!
Ugh! F chord is hard, but thanks for the tips. I am working on it!
Thanks for the tips
Great tips! I really enjoyed this video even though I already know how to play bar chords... :P
But what I do when I go back and forth to C is that I actually don’t play the full bar but a kind of F/C by playing
X 3 3 2 1 X (thumb muting the low E and pointer muting the high E)
or sometimes
X 3 3 2 1 1 (with a little bar over the top two strings).
This way my thumb doesn’t have to move back every time and my hand in general stays more in one position. This is especially helpful (or necessary even) when playing crazy fast Irish Folk Songs like I do most of the time... ;)
I do that too often. Especially if you're playing with a bass player.
Tom Strahle This was so very helpful, Tom! Many thanks. Cheers, Dave
I have been playing for about 23 years and I have NEVER used a strap for practicing. The other day I finally bought one and I WISH I would have done it YEARS ago! Standing and playing SOOOO much easier and lets you choke up or down on the neck and change the orientation of the guitar against the body in any way...also, I can get my hand wrap right up around for easy bar chords..I think ALL beginners should use a strap...much less frustrating!
If you are right handed, you can mimic the standing placement of the guitar while sitting by placing it over the left leg and twisting slightly to until the body is against chest and diaphragm. You can then stand up and the guitar placement shouldn't change. Great technique for those of us who prefer to stand, but not always! LOL
Thank you Tom, that was very helpful! I just discovered your channel today, I'll subscribe! All the best to you! 🍀⭐️🙏🌸
Lots of love. Thank you.🤗♥️♥️
You are very welcome!
I broke my wrist last year and my left hand and fingers need exercises and so I was wondering if this chord is hard because my hand is still kind of ‘broken. Glad to know it is not a typically easy chord!
If your a beginner this f bar shape is inappropriate for you. The smaller f is the correct one that will work the best with the other open chords.
What an awesome video / tutorial
nice. I've been using barre for years - nice to see ways to improve.
Love your laid back style!
Thanks Greg!
Very nice tutorial.......❣️👍💫
Thank you so much I've been trying to learn bar chords, and this is very helpful!
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Thanks for making this enjoyable video. I've been messing about with guitar for more than 50 years, and I still recall the thrill of discovering the amazing flexibility that bar chords offered. Mind you, in the main I do prefer natural chords, but crikey there's nothing better than a good old bar chord to get you out of trouble. Personally, and I don't recall where this idea came from, I just worked my bar chords around the E shape and the A shape and that has served me reasonably well.
Your tips were much appreciated, and I'll give them a try asap. Thanks again.
nice one ; have me a bit of hope on learning the F chord
This makes me happy!
Just another quick realization I had for any beginners: for 23 years I have tried to use fingers 1, 2, and 3, for the A chord. It NEVER sounded right and I would mute the strings next to the chord. I switched to 2, 3, 4, fingers the other day and it is simple and sounds great. I'm sure Tom would have straightened me out years ago :( but I've never had a lesson.
Yep, I think I mention that somewhere.
Great video.
Thank you.
I got an accoustic guitar to play Escape by Enrique Iglesias since it sounds easy. Yup, out of the 4 chords it has one is an "F".
Great video and instructions
I wish I'd had this video many years ago when I first started trying to play. I'm still rubbish but at least I wouldn't have felt useless!
Thank you sir, it helped
Great Tips! Thanks!
Thank you.