Hi all, thanks for the replies and tips! Always nice to know I’m not the only one struggling
I had taken a look through the forum here and others online and couldn’t really find anything that resonated in a way that helped. However, through a little trail and error I have managed to find something which has helped me play the chord much more consistently and I wanted to share it in case it helps someone else.
So, in the video, Justin talks about ‘rolling’ your index finger; not totally to the side but so that it is not flat. I felt as though I was achieving this at first as my finger wasn’t flat but also wasn’t completely on its side. However, regardless of how hard I pressed, I just couldn’t get the B string to budge.
After pulling my hair out for the last few weeks trying to crack this, I recently started to try placing the ‘E Shape’ down with fingers 2, 3 & 4 and then laying my index down flat first of all. When I was fretting the chord, I would press my index finger down but also slightly up as well, not so that it moves from the fret but I can feel an upward pressure - and it works!
To me, it looks almost the same as what had been doing previously but I imagine it must have something to do with how the strings grip my index finger that is allowing me to hold them all down.
Hopefully this might help someone else who is struggling!
When you say “…I would press my index finger down but also slightly up as well…” do you mean that you’re pressing it slightly toward the low E string? I haven’t tried this but it would makes sense that this creates a little more pressure on the B string.
try to play the F Bar chord higher on the neck ( closer to the body on the 7th fret, it will be easier, then climb up as you progress. at least you don’t get the frustration of missing it it everytime :-))
Note may not be a F bar but it should sound nice.
Electric guitar is easier too
Good advise. I agree but still having trouble as I move back up to F chord. Some days are better than others. Will not give up until I master it. Champagne toast when I do. Maybe I should do that before practice to stay loose. LOL.[
This is a perfect time to learn what chords you are playing. 7th fret is a B 5th fret is an A 3rd fret is a G and you know where the F chord is. The root note (the note the chords are named from) is on the E string.
It’s actually moving down to the F chord when you move towards the headstock the frequency gets lower this is why it’s moving down the neck.
Thats a good tip also try pulling your elbow into your body, I aim for the bottom of the ribs it works for me, I also tried playing the chord standing up which sounded good then back to sitting down, now got it sounding out most times, I am usng Fmaj7/c for songs but the full barre chord sounds better with the bass string in it. Hope this helps
This is the most frustrating chord ever. OK, I don’t have long fingers, and I’m struggling so much with F on acoustic. First issue: my pinkie keeps getting flat and muting G string. So I had to do some practice (without index finger on 1st fret) just to get all strings ringing out. Then when I get that going, I put my bar… And no matter how hard I press or rotate index finger as Justin showed in the video, I cannot get E and B strings ringing out. At best E is but B is muted. That’s the best I got….
Banging my head against the monitor did not help either…
Keep at it Eugene. Yes, it is a frustrating chord and it’s a hard fought win but you will get there. You’re having the same sort of issues I was when I was learning it.
Dave, I just started my journey with F chord and I have precisely the same problem. I wish I could you give you advice and help but sadly I cannot. The only thing I can say, keep at it and may be one day you get a breakthrough and will teach me how to do this F-chord. Cheers,
Eugene.
As someone who went through this earlier this year and now can play the F quite well, I think there are two major things that can have a massive impact on how easy it is to learn the F chord that some beginners overlook:
Learn it on an electric. Justin does recommend learning on electrics early in grade 1, but I see a lot of learners on the community learning on acoustics. He strongly recommends electrics in the F chord lesson as well.
Replace your standard acoustic strings with lighter gauge .11s or .10s
Cheap acoustic guitars are some of the hardest guitars to play. Justin even has a video on one. You need to press down with more force.
Learning the F is both a hand co-ordination AND a strength thing. What’s the best way to build strength? Not start on the heaviest weights you can. Start on a lighter weight and build up, while working on your technique too. The way you do this on guitar is start with an instrument that’s easier to fret, and the simplest way to make it easier to fret is to have lighter strings (lighter acoustic gauge), or both better setup & lighter strings (an electric is lower action and usually has 9s or 10s).
Bar first, then put you fingers on! (and dance the bluuuuues ).
As for all chords, you need to fret the bass strings first as they are the first ones to be strummed. I guess it’s the same for Bar chords : place bar index finger first, then in the next milliseconds the other 3 hopefully where they should go!
I’m no expert, aficionado or anything of the sort. Just thought I’d throw in my experience. Started playing in February of this year, so roughly 4 months ago. I got to module 9 gave it a go for a day or so and decided to SLOW down and sort of get the things I’d already learned down a bit more solid. During that time, I made an emotional purchase, I bought a “cheapy” Mustang as my second guitar. I noticed the action on this guitar was noticeably lower than the Strat i started with… On my third try on this guitar i had an F ringing out. Within a week I was using the F chord in songs and basically hit it every time.
My point isn’t for you to go out and buy a “cheapy” Mustang. I ended up lowering the action on my strat and now I can hit F chords on that one no sweat also… I put down the bar last. I can’t switch at full speed yet, but i can certainly use it during practice and rely on it ringing out properly.
A little background… I have short stubby fingers, the C chord has been the most difficult for me to get “good” at. I typically practice an hour per day after work. 3 or 4 of those practices are “structred” while the other times it’s just me picking up a guitar and playing along to the JustinGuitar App.
Keep at it. I have been working pretty hard on the F barre and e shaped bar cords in general for 8-10 months at least and only revelry is it all coming together.
It will come, be patient and when it does it is like a whole new door opens on what you can play. Super fun, totally worth the effort and swearing.
Today I played Rhiannon at 100% speed with the F’s as barre chord. Not too bad, though not ringing on all strings every time.
See earlier posts in March and April where I was struggling to get it to sound on all strings at all.
Use elbow of strumming arm to put pressure on guitar to help push neck towards fretting hang and get the thumb right. Back of neck but between the barre and fretting fingers. Several comments regarding this in other F chord problem posts. You put extra pressure, by pulling with fretting hand to counter the elbow pressure.
Interesting, I had a very similar experience. Module 9 was a bit of a road block so I paused and went back through all the previous modules to make sure I was really ready to proceed. I also used the pause to really learn some songs rather than just follow along in the app. I think both have been gratifying and useful. While doing that I periodically fooled with the F which I can now generally make but can’t yet switch to while playing. Almost ready to sit back down to #9. (NB another reason I paused was to redo lessons on web site rather than on app as I had done. I assumed they were identical, but web version is a little more thorough. Use web for lessons, app for songs.)
The lessons are the one area I’m not big on with the app. I do need to put in some time on learning more songs “out” of the app. I have a couple, but I really love playing along with the app.
