This chord has 4 voicings across the fretboard. Use the arrows to see each shape and fingering — and tap any dot on the diagram to hear that note.
F Major Guitar Chord
The infamous barre chord that challenges every beginner. Once mastered, F Major unlocks the entire fretboard.
Also known as
- F
- FM
- F M
- Fmaj
- F maj
- Fmajor
- F major
How to Play This Chord
Position your fingers on the fretboard as shown in the diagram. The vertical lines represent the strings, from low E (left) to high E (right), and the horizontal lines are the frets. Numbers inside the dots indicate which finger to use: 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (pinky). An X means don't play that string; an O means play it open. A bar spanning multiple strings means one finger presses across all of them at once — this is known as a barre chord.
Tips & Tricks
The F barre chord is the most infamous hurdle for beginner guitarists. The key is placing your index finger barre right next to the 1st fret wire (not on top of it) and rolling it slightly onto its side. Build strength gradually — even experienced players had to work for this one.