That darn F chord on Guitar

As Joe says, learning to play 'C' to 'F' is a good exercise but if you play your 'C' chord as 'C/G' like this:

Then changing to 'F' entails moving the three fingers on the 6th, 5th and 4th up a string in unison across to the 5th, 4th and 3rd, then barring the index finger and make it a far simpler transition.

A true 'C' should be played on 5 strings only but the majority of us will play all six, and C with an E base does not sound as sweet as c with a G base.

Roger

Jan

I know what you are saying girl.
I used to avoid the F like it was a disease.
Now I kind of prefer the F - I like it's sound along with the C.

Remember - the first guys naming notes probably named it an  " F " chord for a reason !
Keep on keeping on - it will get easier.

Jim

Thanks unclejoesband ......... good idea and yep i hope i get it soon too ......makes songs terrible every time i have to stop to play the F chord.

Laugh Lots ... Forgive Much ...  Love one another     
Covers and some Originals found over there    ------- >    https://soundcloud.com/ukulelejan

TF ........... now that is a good idea, I have tried that in the past and it felt more comfortable i must admit ........... but i then noticed most guitar players didn`t seem to play like that, so i thought i was doing it wrong,  so i stopped playing it that way................but maybe i will go back to that style because it is definately easier to get my hand on there and bar that F chord.  Thanks

Laugh Lots ... Forgive Much ...  Love one another     
Covers and some Originals found over there    ------- >    https://soundcloud.com/ukulelejan

Phill .............. i haven`t advanced enough yet on guitar to have tried the B chord yet! ....... don`t tell me i am in for more horrible chords to play    
Playing the F chord up the neck, is that like frets further up? or do you mean barring?  I am obvioulsy going to have to google the F chord.
Oh yeah .....now I am  just showing how much i don`t know about guitars and chords  aren`t  I 

Laugh Lots ... Forgive Much ...  Love one another     
Covers and some Originals found over there    ------- >    https://soundcloud.com/ukulelejan

Jan, I probably shouldn't jump in here, but everyone knew I would anyway I'm sure.  I don't play any barre chords.  Not one.  SOMETIMES I think I should, and I practice a little.  I can see a lot of benefits. Some songs "need" the sound of barred chords.  I enjoy watching my husband play songs that I think are super tricky, and he just glides through them because he's barring EVERY single chord.  But, I'm really stubborn.  Maybe I like to make life difficult.  LOL!

So, I play a non-barred F.  When I first started, I'd leave the high E string alone.  So my first F was not much different than a C.  You can kind of mute the high E string as well.  Now, I play both the High E and B strings with my index finger.  Mini-barre if you will. 
This one:

As a general rule, if I can find a way to play a chord that sounds decent and makes my life easier, I do it.    I play Bm and Cm without a barre too.  (shh, they're all gonna yell at me!)  I started playing in the more classical position that TF suggested.  Of course, I WAS playing a classical guitar!    Now I usually hold my guitar in a more traditional position, but I still tend to tilt the guitar up toward my face a little (can see the fretboard better).  This makes it much trickier to attempt barre chords, I will admit.  So, if you're holding the guitar in a traditional position rather than the classical position, try to make sure it's not tilted up.  A strap helps put it into the correct position.   

Good luck!  As for finger pain, maybe try putting the capo on and playing up a few frets.  The action will be lower there but fingering doesn't change.  You can work your way back down as your calluses develop more.   

OR - just keep toughing it out and learn the "right" way!    GOOD LUCK LADY!

jan, the easiest F chord shape to play is in the D shape. you will need a capo which you will place on the 3rd frett (G) the problem you'll have then is working out how to play or what shape the other chords are eg; C-G. or Bb! if you'll be playing in the key of C then the shapes will be as if you were playing A-E-D. or in the key of F; D-A-G. capos make life a lot easier.

Phill .... now that sounds interesting,  I will give that a try as well, thanks

Beamer .... thanks for that, sounds complicated BUT when i will get my guitar out and see if i can follow what your meaning and give it ago as well, thank you

When if I am successful with this, i will definately let you all know (as long as i haven`t thrown the guitar out the window by then that is)

Laugh Lots ... Forgive Much ...  Love one another     
Covers and some Originals found over there    ------- >    https://soundcloud.com/ukulelejan

Howdy, Jan! Good to see you again. I actually have less trouble with F than I do with B or B7.  Once you get that index finger over the 1st E and 1st B. The rest comes easy.
I BELIEVE IN YOU, WOMAN WITH THE PRETTY VOICE!!!   You can do it, as Joe says. Just gotta keep at it and then one day you will REGALE us with a tune you will sing with that DAGNABBIT F chord!

Wishing you all the musical best getting there, my friend.

Always

Bill