F chords (Page 1 of 3)

The way bonner plays is the way I play it too... if you can fret the first and second strings all the better... but you can usually get away with leaving the first string open.

Try practicing an E chord but use your 2nd 3rd and 4th fingers instead of 1st 2nd and 3rd. Once you can do this OK then slide it up a fret and use your 1st finger to fret boththe 1st and 2nd strings at the 1st fret. If you twist your wrist just a little bit towards you it may be a bit easier.

if you leave the first string open its an Fma7 (strumming 4 strings)so you will have to mute the first string and play the chord as xx321x which is the way mekidsmom and bonner describe

Take the time to learn to play a bar chord F. Trust me. Learning to use and move this shape will pay big rewards down the road. For years I cheated, happy just to play a song. One day you will realize how vitally important bar chords are. It's fun to play the "cowboy chords" (thanks to Guitarpix for the term) but you NEED to learn these vital shapes. Learn F, B and Bminor bar shapes for starters. These shapes will serve you well up and down the fret board. I know they suck at first (as a matter of fact B still sucks) but don't underestimate how these shapes will open up a whole new way of playing guitar.

My high horse? Yes, I believe I could but I'm not much of an equestrian. I can play them while laying on the sofa. I know that doesn't sound like an accomplishment but it is!

I played on and off for 20 years (with a 10 year hiatus) and a few years back I really found out how useful bar chords are. Being able to move a 1/2 shapes around the fret board and create virtually any chord is awesome. These shapes lead you to start thinking of lead guitar licks as well which then lead to scales, etc...

I'm ranting again aren't I?????

B is evil and I have been granted amnesty.  I hear your point, but choose to ignore it at my own risk. 

- Zurf

LOL!  I love you guys!  I do have to say, my husband has been working on barre cords (and I HOPE he can play them on his new electric) and I can absolutely see how "easy" playing guitar would be if I could play them.  It's a double edged sword in a way!  I get that once you get them... you can do almost anything "simply" by moving around... but to get them is another story!

I don't know if I could play my cowgirl chords on horseback... but I'm POSITIVE I couldn't play barre chords!  LOL!

I've seen you pick cowboy...no ones looking down at you

Sorry Geo, I was just havin fun

In fact I am just workin on an old Johny Rivers song that is all Barre Chords, but don't tell anybody

Please don't stop posting !

I see no reason to play a B chord, that's why God made a capo

My advice is simple, play it how ever you can now but remember to continue practicing it the ways you can't

I occasionally use the cheater F (xx321x) It just fits some songs better... Like "What it's Like" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gliNv1eF … re=related but mostly I prefer barre.... I just find it easier to manuever from chord to chord and add variations to the strumming like muting and such.

I agree... it's all supposed to be fun!  And I agree with your point too geo!  It's just not as easy as it sounds, but I can see the doors it could open up.  I was mostly just picking on ya too... you're a good guy!  Off the horse and come on in for some hot cocoa!