F Chord
The F is a major chord that sounds bright, happy, and resolved. Major chords are the backbone of countless songs. Their bright, stable sound makes them perfect for strumming, picking, and rhythm playing across every genre.
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
Uses a barre chord technique
Barre Shape — Fret 8
Uses a barre chord technique
How to Play F
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | F |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 3 with your ring finger | A |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 3 with your pinky finger | C |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | F |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | A |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | C |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in F
The F chord is built from 3 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
Songs Using F
These songs from our play-along library feature the F chord:
Let It Be
The Beatles
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
CCR
Free Fallin'
Tom Petty
No Woman, No Cry
Bob Marley
Zombie
The Cranberries
House of the Rising Sun
The Animals
Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen
La Bamba
Ritchie Valens
Leaving on a Jet Plane
John Denver
Better Together
Jack Johnson
Counting Stars
OneRepublic
Down on the Corner
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Landslide
Fleetwood Mac
The Sound of Silence
Simon & Garfunkel
Mr. Jones
Counting Crows
Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
Take Me to Church
Hozier
Ho Hey
The Lumineers
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
Roxanne
The Police
Sultans of Swing
Dire Straits
21 Guns
Green Day
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Other F Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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