The F root note is one of the most important and most feared chord families on guitar. The open F major barre chord is the wall that every beginner hits — but once you break through it a whole new world of music opens up. From the emotional Fm to the sophisticated Fmaj7 — every F chord shape you will ever need is on this page.

F Minor (Fm)

Dark powerful and emotional. Fm is a barre chord at fret 1 using the E minor shape. One of the most dramatic minor chords on guitar — used constantly in emotional ballads and rock music.

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

Fingers: Index barre across all 6 strings at fret 1
         Ring=A string fret 3  Pinky=D string fret 3
Strum: All 6 strings

Songs: Toxic — Britney Spears, Fix You — Coldplay (bridge), countless emotional ballads and rock songs

F Major (F)

The most famous wall in beginner guitar. F major requires a full barre at fret 1 using the E major shape. Once mastered it unlocks the entire moveable barre chord system across the neck.

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

Fingers: Index barre across all 6 strings at fret 1
         Middle=G string fret 2
         Ring=A string fret 3  Pinky=D string fret 3
Strum: All 6 strings

Easier partial voicing for beginners:

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

Fingers: Index barre B and e strings at fret 1
         Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=D string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Let It Be — The Beatles, No Woman No Cry — Bob Marley, countless songs in C major

F Power Chord (F5)

Root and fifth only. Clean and powerful. One of the most used power chord positions in rock guitar anchored at fret 1 on the low E string.

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

Fingers: Index=low E string fret 1  Ring=A string fret 3  Pinky=D string fret 3
Strum: Bottom 3 strings only (E A D)

Songs: Rock rhythm guitar in F, power chord progressions, punk and alternative riffs

F Dominant 7th (F7)

The blues chord in F. Adds a flat 7th to F major creating tension that wants to resolve to Bb. Essential for blues and jazz progressions in Bb major.

F7 notes: F A C Eb

e |--1--|   F (root) -- e fret 1 = F yes
B |--1--|   F -- B fret 1 = C (5th) yes
G |--2--|   A (3rd) -- G fret 2 = A yes
D |--1--|   Eb (b7) -- D fret 1 = Eb yes
A |--3--|   C (5th) -- A fret 3 = C yes
E |--1--|   F (root)

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

Fingers: Index barre all strings at fret 1
         Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=A string fret 3
         Note: D string stays at fret 1 (index barre)
Strum: All 6 strings

Songs: 12 bar blues in F, jazz standards resolving to Bb, blues shuffles in F

F Minor 7th (Fm7)

Smooth sophisticated and soulful. The flat 7th added to Fm creates a cooler more sophisticated minor sound. Used constantly in jazz, soul and R&B.

Fm7 notes: F Ab C Eb

e |--1--|   F (root)
B |--1--|   C (5th) -- B fret 1 = C yes
G |--1--|   Ab (m3) -- G fret 1 = G# = Ab yes
D |--1--|   Eb (b7) -- D fret 1 = Eb yes
A |--3--|   C (5th) -- A fret 3 = C yes
E |--1--|   F (root)

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

Fingers: Index barre all strings at fret 1
         Ring=A string fret 3
Strum: All 6 strings

Songs: Jazz ii V I progressions in Eb, soul and R&B chord movements, sophisticated pop ballads

F Major 7th (Fmaj7)

Lush dreamy and warm. One of the easiest and most beautiful F voicings on guitar — only requires one finger. Perfect for beginners who struggle with the full F barre chord.

Fmaj7 notes: F A C E

e |--0--|   E (maj7) yes
B |--1--|   C (5th) -- B fret 1 = C yes
G |--2--|   A (3rd) -- G fret 2 = A yes
D |--3--|   F (root) -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--0--|
B |--1--|
G |--2--|
D |--3--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=B string fret 1  Middle=G string fret 2  Ring=D string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Bossa nova standards, jazz ballads, sophisticated pop progressions — also a great beginner alternative to the full F barre chord

F Suspended 2nd (Fsus2)

Open floating and atmospheric. Replaces the 3rd with a 2nd creating a sound that is neither major nor minor. Beautiful for verse sections and fingerpicking patterns.

Fsus2 notes: F G C (root 2nd 5th)

e |--1--|   F (root) -- e fret 1 = F yes
B |--1--|   C (5th) -- B fret 1 = C yes
G |--0--|   G (2nd) -- G open = G yes
D |--3--|   F (root) -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--1--|
B |--1--|
G |--0--|
D |--3--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e and B strings at fret 1
         Ring=D string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Songs: Atmospheric pop and rock, verse sections, fingerpicking patterns in F

F Suspended 4th (Fsus4)

Tense and dramatic. The 4th replaces the 3rd creating tension that resolves beautifully to F major. Often played just before the full F chord.

Fsus4 notes: F Bb C (root 4th 5th)

e |--1--|   F (root)
B |--1--|   C (5th) -- B fret 1 = C yes
G |--1--|   Bb? -- G fret 1 = G# = Ab -- no
           G fret 3 = Bb yes
D |--3--|   F (root) -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--3--|   C (5th) -- A fret 3 = C yes
E |--1--|   F (root)

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

Fingers: Index barre low E B e strings at fret 1
         Ring=A D G strings at fret 3
Strum: All 6 strings

Songs: Classic Fsus4 to F resolutions, dramatic rock moments, tension builders in C major songs

F Add 9 (Fadd9)

F major with an added 9th (G). Fuller and more colourful than plain F major. A beautiful and practical alternative to the full F barre chord for many playing situations.

Fadd9 notes: F A C G (root 3rd 5th 9th)

e |--1--|   F (root)
B |--1--|   C (5th) -- B fret 1 = C yes
G |--0--|   G (9th) -- G open = G yes
D |--3--|   F (root) -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--1--|
B |--1--|
G |--0--|
D |--3--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=e and B strings at fret 1
         Ring=D string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Rich and modern. The open G string adds the 9th naturally. A practical and beautiful alternative to the full F barre chord that works perfectly in fingerpicking and gentle strumming contexts.

Songs: Modern pop ballads, fingerpicking patterns, emotional verse sections in C major

F Diminished (Fdim)

Tense unstable and dramatic. Used as a passing chord creating powerful chromatic movement between other chords. Appears in classical, jazz and dramatic rock passages.

Fdim notes: F Ab Cb (root minor 3rd flat 5th)
Cb = B natural enharmonically

e |--x--|
B |--0--|   B (= Cb flat 5th enharmonic) yes
G |--1--|   Ab (m3) -- G fret 1 = G# = Ab yes
D |--3--|   F (root) -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

e |--x--|
B |--0--|
G |--1--|
D |--3--|
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

Fingers: Index=G string fret 1  Ring=D string fret 3
         B string open
Strum: D G B strings only

Dark and tense. Used as a chromatic passing chord between F and Gm or as a dramatic tension chord in jazz and classical progressions.

Songs: Classical passing chords, jazz progressions, dramatic chromatic movements in C major

F Augmented (Faug)

Mysterious and unsettling. The augmented 5th creates a floating tense quality. Used as a passing chord between F and Fm or Bb creating smooth chromatic voice leading.

Faug notes: F A C# (root major 3rd augmented 5th)

e |--1--|   F (root)
B |--2--|   C# (aug 5th) -- B fret 2 = C# yes
G |--2--|   A (3rd) -- G fret 2 = A yes
D |--3--|   F (root) -- D fret 3 = F yes
A |--x--|
E |--x--|

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

Fingers: Index=e string fret 1  Middle=G string fret 2
         Ring=B string fret 2  Pinky=D string fret 3
Strum: 4 strings (D to e — skip A and low E)

Creates mysterious floating tension. The classic use is F — Faug — Bb — Bbm — a progression that moves chromatically through the 5th creating beautiful descending voice leading.

Songs: Jazz passing chords, F Faug Bb progressions, chromatic voice leading movements

Quick Reference — All F Chords

        Fm    F     F5    F7    Fm7
e       1     1     x     1     1
B       1     1     x     1     1
G       1     2     x     2     1
D       3     3     3     1     1
A       3     3     3     3     3
E       1     1     1     1     1

        Fmaj7 Fsus2 Fsus4 Fadd9 Fdim  Faug
e       0     1     1     1     x     1
B       1     1     1     1     0     2
G       2     0     3     0     1     2
D       3     3     3     3     3     3
A       x     x     3     x     x     x
E       x     x     1     x     x     x

Common F Chord Progressions

• F — C — Dm — Bb — the I V vi IV in F major. Incredibly common pop progression
• F — Bb — C — F — classic I IV V I in F major
• Fm — Eb — Db — C — emotional minor progression in F
• F — Faug — Bb — Bbm — chromatic descending voice leading
• Fm7 — Bb7 — Ebmaj7 — smooth jazz ii V I using F minor
• F — Fsus4 — F — Fsus2 — F — classic suspension movement