F Chord Variations

The F-chord is the chord beginning guitar players love to hate. Here are some variations that can be useful in different situations.
The “standard” F-chord involves moving an E-chord up one fret using a barre at the first fret. But the barre is difficult for most beginners (and a lot of not-so-beginners) so finding an alternative or two is useful – even for more advanced players. In the video here I focus on different versions of what I call the “little F-chord”.

There is another variation which I do not mention in the video, and that is simply by not fingering the high E-string at all – leaving it open and either muting it, not playing it, or even playing it – which results in a F-Major-7. This last alternative (including an open E-string) can sound OK much of the time. But other times it sounds better if the E-string is not played (or muted). It depends on the context, and the amount of emphasis (or de-emphasis) you give the E-string.

(Note: Fingering the A-string – at A3 – is optional. Leaving it open is OK too.)