F chord help

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robert F. Booth on June 9, 2011 at 8:17pm

Just keep what your doing and it will come to you, I'm 52 years old and I'm having the same trouble, so don't fill bad.  Try the Fmaj7 chord, it is a lot easier, just keep trying that hard F chord you'll get it.

Permalink Reply by Robert F. Booth on June 9, 2011 at 8:26pm

Before I forget the Fmaj7 is the 1st finger on string 2 of the 1st fret, the middle finger is on string 3 of the 2nd fret, and the ring finger is on string 4 of the 3rd fret, then you strum the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings. I sometimes strum the 1st string also. I hope this helps you.

Permalink Reply by Angela Huan Vuong on June 9, 2011 at 8:33pm

Hello friend

This is how we teach our students about chords, how to make it easy and not hurting your hand and fingers.

1. just lay out all the fingering as show, do not need to press so your fingers so hard, will hurted.

2. now take your hand away from the fretboard.

3. Immediately put back all the fingers as where they supposed to be

4. take your hand and fingers away from the fretboard and immediately put them back again.

5. do this about 10 or 20 times, immediately one after another.

By now it should be much easier to play the chord - do this to every new chords you learn

 

Thanks and have fun

 

Permalink Reply by Denny Baer on June 9, 2011 at 10:21pm

If your not already you may want to work with an Occupational Therapist to strengthen your left hand and fingers.

Sometime ago I saw an add for a device for guitar players to strengthen their fingers. It was a web of bands that fit on your fingers and you opened and closed your fist. The bands were such that there was tension in both directions.

As for the F chord I just use a full bar, placing the finger over all six strings. With practice it came much easier. You may also want to try rolling your index finger a little more to it's side rather than laying it flat on the strings. This should work with both a full bar or just the 1st & 2nd strings.

 

Good luck,

Permalink Reply by Angela Huan Vuong on June 10, 2011 at 9:49am

Hello and Good morning.

 

Exercise is the key for building up strength for your arms and finger muscles. Matter fact I advise my students to perform exercise daily, just a few simple exercise to make your fretboard fingers strong and in control.

go to my site and see those exercise.

 

I advise my students to exercise daily if for some reason they do not want to practice.

 

It is so hard and words are not enough to describe - so just go to my site and i think you will be happy.

 

Have a great weekend

Permalink Reply by Newbie Dean on June 10, 2011 at 10:20am

I'm a 62 year old newbie.  So, I'm glad to see other "seniors" take up the git.  That said, I have found that fretting the first frett with the SIDE of your index finger might help.  I get my index finger FLAT at the first frett then slightly ROLL it to the frett.  That technique got me going on all the barre chords.  Hope it helps and Keep It Fun, Dean

Permalink Reply by John Gundrum on June 10, 2011 at 11:05am

If you have large enough hands you might want to try using your thumb to fret the low-string(s).  Fret the two high strings just like you are doing.  Basically wrap your thumb around the top of the neck.  You only need to grab hold slightly to get it to sound.  Don't try to death-grip it.  This is technique practiced by many players.

Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on June 10, 2011 at 11:39am

Someone else asked about this before and here was a suggestion my me!

 

Hey RS, another hint to help with mastering F and Bb...tune your guitar down a half step and then put a capo on the first fret, you are now basically back to standard pitch...BUT the tension is lower and IF the nut is not cut deep enough and causing problems with fretting behind the first fret you will know it because these chords will be easier to press down, cluing you to get the nut slots filed down a little! AND (could it get any better) you can keep it here until you master r these two hard chords and when you take off the capo, it will be easier! Trust me, I wouldn't steer you wrong! Edward

Permalink Reply by Mark on June 13, 2011 at 7:40pm

Hi Micheal!

Here's a link to a discussion from last year about this very same subject:

http://www.acousticguitarcommunity.com/group/acousticnewb/forum/top...

 

My own method is to turn the index finger "in" so that the side of the finger is actually hitting the strings.   The best way to accomplish this is to sort of tuck the left elbow in towards your gut .  That forces the index finger to roll a bit.  

 

I'm far from any sort of expert or really any kind of guitarist for that matter, but that is what works for me on the F chord.

I'm certain an instructor will tell you that's not the correct way to do it.

 

Cheers!

Permalink Reply by Michael Shaw on June 15, 2011 at 1:37am

My thanks to all of you!