A question for the teachers: I learned the mini-F (way pre-Justin) as an easier version of the F chord. To me it was easier, and changing C to F (and back) was a lot easier. For a while, it was the only F chord I could play; later on I learned the full barre version.
However, many people seem to have more trouble with the mini-F than the full barre version. For those folks, does it make any sense at all to spend lots of time on the mini-F grip? I realize there are some instances where freeing up the pinky with the mini-F lets you play the high G (3rd fret, e string) and D (3rd fret, B string) notes, so there are some circumstances where the mini-F is required.
But I would suggest that if you are having trouble with the mini-F, but you can play the barre F, then skip the mini-F, you likely wonât need it. And if you do end up needing it for a particular song, well, then thatâs when you should learn it.
Of course, I am not a teacher, so thatâs why Iâm asking the teachersâ advice.
I think youâve got âtopâ and âbottomâ mixed up. The thinnest strings are the top strings and the thickest are the bottom, in this context top and bottom refer to the pitch of the open string
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I can get it to sound good some of the time, which means I can do itâŠits just a matter of switching into the mini F quickly and obv having it sound good every time. Ill keep practicing.
Yeah I definitely got them mixed up. I have a bit habit where I slip back into referring to the strings by there relative position instead of using the correct terminology.
I canât play the mini F chord properly though I am okay with the Big F. The first string doesnât ring. Do I still need to learn this chord? Big F contains all the notes that mini F has.
I would say that it is a good idea to have the mini F under your belt. Sometimes the mini F is easier to hit for certain songs. I know that mini F is used for House Of the rising sun. There is another I know but canât think of the song right now.
The F chord should have the same notes from what I understand otherwise it would not be in the Family of the F chord. The main difference is the open strings that are involved. This can bring more variations, hammer ons and flick offs by using your pinky depending on the chord you are using. Fmaj7 is a good example. Opens the door for other variations.
I have the mini F in my list of chords and have and will use it in different scenarios depending on if I like the sound.
I think you should. But if you donât have any practical purpose a.t.m. then probably not Necessary. But really nice to have in the repertoire of chords known.
A good reason to learn it would be it helps develop your first finger strength for barre chords. As well as other chords down the line that you will have to use your first finger to barre 2 strings and your third for 2 strings as well.
I think âmini-Fâ usually refers to this chord grip xx3211. There are no open strings. This is the one many people have trouble with. Fmaj7 has no barre and is much easier than mini-F.
I think the poster (and others on this thread and elsewhere) have mentioned that they can play the barre F, so the learning the mini-F to gain strength for barre chords isnât really relevant.
Yeah, I was thinking wrong there for a sec. For some reason I had it in my mind it was first 3 strings used for chord. Other than that, the embellishment with hammer ons and flicks off surely comes into place.
I found it helped me out with my barre. That pinching motion helped with that center muscle. I could feel it. The ones who can hit that F already have the muscle and wouldnât necessarily âfeelâ it as much Iâm thinking. âIsnât really relaventâ in my mind means it has a place. But non the less it is helping with that muscle and seems to have helped me. Anything to get that muscle going in my mind would be a good thing.
But that was me. Also helped with getting the mini A as well as other chords down the line
Iâve come back here to look at your mini-F after watching your â10 SING-ALONG SONGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ON GUITARâ, featuring Mini-F with thumb muting.
Mini-F without the mute is ok, but Barre F is so much easier than trying to mute that top string on a mini-F!
So I was pleased to note here that NITSUJ has found the same thing.
As soon as I try to use the thumb, I end up muting the bottom 3 strings. How do you do it? Is there a lesson somewhere that talks about that? Iâve struggled to match your Fâs in the â10 Singalong songsâŠâ with no success, while it looks so effortless on the video.
Like others have said, struggling with Mini- F - occasionally works- but canât work out why. Seem to have to press very hard with the little finger. Watched Jâs video again. Still struggling. Will keep plugging away, perhaps it was this way when I first did a D. Barre F is coming along.
Hi Grahame, the F major chord (without the 7) contains three notes: F, A, C - the first, third, and fifth notes of the F scale. (All major chords are formed in this way, where the scale used is that of the root note of the chord.) In the diagram for F major 7, youâll notice the first string is played open. That adds the note E to the chord. E is the 7th note in the F major scale. Hope that helps!
I immediately recognized the song âAquariumâ from âNosaj Thingâ when you played the FMaj7 to C progression. Canât thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with us!
It may be that using just the one part of your finger on the âcheatâ is less comfortable: might that top joint in your finger have some inherent weakness or old damage. If you find the âfullâ chord easier go for it: you may find some changes slightly more difficult. One other thing worth checking: when youve got your fingers down on the full F pick the individual strings and listen for evry string ringing out properly; no buzzes or accidentally muted strings. Do the same with the four strings that should sound out from the âcheatâ F: you might be voicing the chord better than you think.
I donât think youâre alone in this. I learned the full barre chord from the outset. I tried the other version but didnât have great success covering the 2 notes with finger number 1 so just set about learning the full barre. It took some time but more useful in the long run.
I also find the barre easier to play than the âcheatâ (BTW itâs not a cheat- itâs the notes F A C F which is a ârealâ F chord). The problem I have is changing quickly from say an open C or Am to the F barre and back to an open chord. So I use the open version more often.
You could try just resting your index finger on string 1 to mute it. That gives you the notes F A C. Thatâs still a real F chord.
Yeah I definitely got them mixed up. I have a bit habit where I slip back into referring to the strings by there relative position instead of using the correct terminology.
