The F barre is the boss fight of beginner guitar. The action on an acoustic is higher than electric, which makes the barre harder. But you have to get this one: every E-shape major and minor chord up the neck is built on it.
Deep-dive guide
Read the full guide
A longer write-up with every detail, drill, and common pitfall.
The shape
- Index finger: barre across all six strings at the 1st fret
- Middle finger: 2nd fret G string
- Ring finger: 3rd fret A string
- Pinky: 3rd fret D string
The barre-finger trick
Don't barre with the flat pad of your index finger. Roll it slightly so the side (the part facing the thumb) presses the strings. The side is harder, less fleshy, and presses cleaner. The pad has soft spots (the joints) that always create dead strings.Thumb behind the neck
The thumb goes on the back of the neck, roughly opposite your middle finger. NOT wrapped over the top. The barre needs squeeze, and that comes from thumb-vs-fingers pressure, not arm strength.Deep-dive guide
Read the full guide
A longer write-up with every detail, drill, and common pitfall.
Drill it without strumming first
- Place the barre, no other fingers. Pick each string. Identify the dead ones.
- Adjust your index finger angle / pressure until all six strings ring.
- Add the other fingers. Pick each string again.
- Strum.
Practice metronome
60BPM
60 BPM. Strum F. Lift fingers. Place F. Strum again. Loop for 10 minutes. Your hand will hurt. That's OK; it's building the strength every guitarist needs.
Easier alternatives
Until F is solid, use these alternatives in songs:- Fmaj7 (no barre): X-X-3-2-1-0
- F mini: index on 1st fret B + high E (mini-barre), middle on 2nd fret G, ring on 3rd fret D
Next: A-shape barre chords. Once you have E-shape (the F shape), A-shape is half the work.