In this guide we’ll navigate through three essential variations of F Major, utilizing left-handed guitar chord charts. We’ll also explain the theory behind these chords as we explore scale degrees, intervals, and the foundational principles of chord construction, all from a left-handed perspective. And lastly, we’ll explain the role E major plays in various musical keys.
Interested in learning more left-handed chords? Check out our left-handed chord library.
How to play the F major chord for left-handers
Open position
- Finger Placement:
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the high E (1st) string and the 1st fret of the B string (2nd).
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string.
- Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string.
- Strumming
- Strum from the D (4th) string down to the high E (1st) string.
- Avoid strumming the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings to keep the chord clean.
F Major Chord – E Barre Shape
- Finger Placement:
- Use your index finger to barre (press down) all the strings at the 1st fret.
- Place your middle finger (2nd finger) on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string.
- Put your ring finger (3rd finger) on the 3rd fret of the A (5th) string.
- Position your pinky finger (4th finger) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string.
- Strumming
- Strum all six strings from the low E (6th) string down to the high E (1st) string.
F Major Chord – A Barre Shape
- Finger Placement:
- Use your index finger (1st finger) to barre (press down) the first 5 strings at the 8th fret.
- Place your middle finger (2nd finger) on the 10th fret of the D (4thd) string.
- Put your ring finger (3rd finger) on the 10th fret of the G (3rd) string.
- Position your pinky finger (4th finger) on the 10th fret of the B (2nd) string.
- Strumming
- Strum the first 5 strings from the A (5th) string down to the high E (1st) string.
- Ensure your index finger maintains a firm barre across all strings for a clean and clear sound.
Tips for Playing F Major
Playing the F major chord on the guitar can be challenging, especially for beginners. To tackle this chord cleanly, start by using the “mini barre” method shown in the open version of the chord (the first example shown above) where you press down only the first two strings with your index finger while fretting the rest of the chord with your other fingers.
Ensure your fingers are close to the frets for a cleaner sound, and practice applying even pressure across the strings to avoid muted notes. Over time, work on strengthening your index finger for a full barre, and play the E barre version of the F major chord. Remember, practice and patience are key when mastering the F major chord.
You can read more tips on playing chords cleanly by clicking here.
F Major Chord – Chord Theory
Before we discuss how the F major chord is constructed, we first need to take a closer look at the F major scale, as the notes of the F major chord are derived from this scale.
F major chord construction – using scale degrees
Scale Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F Major Scale | F | G | A | Bb | C | D | E |
F Major Chord | F | – | A | – | C | – | – |
As we can see in the table above the E major scale consists of the notes: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, and E
As all major chords are built from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degrees of the accompanying major scale the notes for the F major chord are F, A, and C.
F major chord construction – using intervals
Interval | Root | M2 | M3 | P4 | P5 | M6 | M7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F Major Scale | F | G | A | Bb | C | D | E |
F Major Chord | F | – | A | – | C | – | – |
You can read more about intervals and how they are used to build chords here.
All major chords include the major third (M3) and perfect fifth (P5) above the root note, which in the case of F major is of course F. The major third interval, A, is four semitones above F, and the perfect fifth (C) is seven semitones above the root.
Another way to visualize the construction of the F major chord is in stacked thirds e.g. passing through three note letters of the F major scale e.g. the 2nd note of the F major chord is a third above the root note of F e.g. (F-G-A). While the 3rd note of the chord is a third above the 2nd note of A e.g. (A-Bb – C).
The Role Of F Major – Chord Function
What is Chord Function?
Chord function refers to the role a chord plays within the context of a key, defining its relationship to the tonic (the first note of a scale or key) and its tendency to move towards certain other chords. Understanding chord functions helps in creating and analyzing chord progressions, providing insight into the harmonic structure and movement within a piece of music.
Key | Chord Number | Function |
---|---|---|
C Major | V | Dominant: Creates tension, often resolving to the tonic (F Major). |
B♭ Major | IV | Subdominant: Provides a stepping stone between the tonic (F Major) and dominant (C Major). |
F Major | I | Tonic: The ‘home’ chord of the F Major key. |
A Minor | III | Mediant: Offers a contrast to the tonic (F Major) and can lead to the subdominant (B♭ Major). |
G Minor | II | Supertonic: Commonly leads to the dominant (C Major). |
D Minor | VI | Submediant: Often used in chord progressions moving from the tonic (F Major) to the submediant (D Minor) and then to the dominant (C Major). |
E Diminished | VII | Leading Tone: Creates a strong desire to resolve to the tonic (F Major). |
Other Keys | NA | Not present. |
- Key: The musical key.
- Chord Number: Indicates the position of the chord within the key.
- Chord Function: Describes the musical role of the chord in that key (e.g., Tonic, Subdominant, etc.).