F and F#

by shawn7656 (Mar 27, 2009)

This lesson is in reply to a request on playing these two chords easily.

The normal (open) F chord is


e|-1---------------------|
B|-1---------------------|
G|-2---------------------|
D|-3---------------------|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|

Coincidentally I find the easiest way to play it is use the finger that corresponds with the fret you are on. The first finger (pointer finger) on the first fret on e and B strings, the second finger (middle) on the G string, and the third finger (ring) on the D string.

The normal (open) F# is


e|-6---------------------|
B|-7---------------------|
G|-6---------------------|
D|-4---------------------|
A|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|

The easiest way i find to play this chord is the ring finger on the e, pinkie on the B, middle on the G, and the pointer the D string. The only other way i can even imagine playing this chord is barring the 6th fret on the e, B, and G strings with your ring finger, hitting the B string with your pinkie on the seventh fret, and using your pointer on the D string, 4th fret.



The easiest ways to play these chords in my opinion is using the barre chords though:


F
e|-1----------|
B|-1----------|
G|-2----------|
D|-3----------|
A|-3----------|
E|-1----------|

F#
e|-2----------|
B|-2----------|
G|-3----------|
D|-4----------|
A|-4----------|
E|-2----------|


Both Chords you bar every string with your pointer finger, put your ring on the A string. pinkie on the D, and middle on the G.
This, in my opinion, is the easiest way to play the barre without "cheating" and playing these:


F
e|-1----------|
B|-1----------|
G|-1----------|
D|-3----------|
A|-3----------|
E|-1----------|

F#
e|-2----------|
B|-2----------|
G|-2----------|
D|-4----------|
A|-4----------|
E|-2----------|


You play these simply by again barring the root with your pointer, but then also bar the A and D string with your ring finger. Though this will most likely mute the G string, you wont really notice the difference unless you are playing a song that adds variations such as 9ths, 7ths, and so on to each chord. In that case you would wanna play the full barre; though with strumming, there is only a very slight difference, especially with distortion.

I hope this helped Kitaco


(lesson request)

"Having problem with F and F# chord.
by Kitaco

Is there any way to learn this chord fairly easily? I'm not totally clueless =x but I'm a beginner. "