You don’t HAVE to, but playing the same chord using a different fingering pattern adds more flavour to your comping. Please allow me to give you an example. Here’s how I often play the F chord:
(string - fret)
E - 5 (the note is A, which is the third
A - x (no need to double the third)
D - 3 (F - the root)
G - 5 (C - the fifth)
B - 6 (the root again)
E - x
The chord sounds great when you play it arpeggiated. When you’re strumming, try to mute the A and high E strings tom make the pattern fully movable, with the root always on D and B strings. Many guitarists, Eric Johnson e.g., use this pattern to play a major chord with the third in the bass.
Bravo on getting barre chord F major under your fingers. That’s a big step.
The other versions are not cheats.
Far from it.
I believe they are useful and wonderful versions of the chord in their own right.
Hey Ho by The Lumineers requires a ‘cheat’ not a full barre. That is just one song that immediately springs to mind and there are many.
If you ever venture down fingerstyle playing or ‘Hendrix’ playing you will need the ‘cheat’ version.
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For me, it was La Bamba that immediately came to mind. This song was the first time I realized how useful the little barre can be.
It is nice to meet you, Mark, and there is some great advice above as always from a great community cheers
They’re “cheats” because they are easier for some people than the full F chord, but they’re still chords! I’d say definitely learn them. Some songs do rely on the sound of these different shapes, and sometimes depending on what you are playing around them it’s easier to use one of the “cheats.” The “cheat” versions can also be very fun to play with embellishments, up and down the fingerboard.
@stitch set me on to the “Mini F” solution:
→ barre more than just strings 5 & 6 (B&e)
With my hand and grip, I find it far easier to fret the B&e with the middle knuckle of finger 1 → with the added bonus of it getting me closer to the full barre F chord—though it does add mileage to finger 1 going to and from non-barre chords.
Thanks @stitch for your suggestion.
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