F major · Full barre F
F guitar chord
Best match1Exact match
Chords117
F sixth · Frets 1–3
F dominant seventh · E shape
F dominant seventh suspended fourth · Frets 1–3
How to play F on guitar
The most common way, the first shape above: lay your index finger flat across the six strings at the 1st fret, your ring finger on the A string at the 3rd fret, your little finger on the D string at the 3rd fret and your middle finger on the G string at the 2nd fret.
From the low E string 1 3 3 2 1 1 (x: not played, 0: open)
An easier F
The full shape is a barre chord, hard at first. This one needs no full barre and sounds much the same: lay your index finger flat across the two strings from the B to the high E at the 1st fret, your ring finger on the D string at the 3rd fret and your middle finger on the G string at the 2nd fret. Don’t play the low E and A strings.
x x 3 2 1 1
F, the easier shape
StandardSmall F · Frets 1–3 · 4 strings
What notes are in F?
F, F major, is F, A and C: the root (F), the major third (A) and the perfect fifth (C). Its formula is 1 3 5.
What is the difference between F and Fm?
One note. F has the major third, A; Fm lowers it a half step to A♭. That one note turns the bright sound of a major chord into the darker sound of a minor one.
Can I play F5 instead?
F5, the power chord, is F and C with no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It stands in for F in rock, especially with distortion, where a full chord can sound muddy.
Keys with F
F is the IV chord in C major, the I chord in F major, the V chord in B♭ major, the III chord in D minor, the VII chord in G minor and the VI chord in A minor, and the V of B♭ minor, the major fifth chord from its harmonic minor scale.
More F chords on guitar
FmsadF7the pullFmaj7dreamyFm7mellowFsus2openFsus4openFadd9sweetFdimthe edgeFauguneasyF6sweetFm6bittersweetF9the pullF7sus4openF5rawFm7♭5the edgeFdim7the edgeEvery F chord ›
Major chords in every key
CbrightD♭brightDbrightE♭brightEbrightF♯brightGbrightA♭brightAbrightB♭brightBbright