How to Play the F Chord in all CAGED Shapes
This video lesson is part of a series exploring CAGED chords, focusing on both open-position and barre chord shapes.
While the CAGED system covers five chord shapes—C, A, G, E, and D—it doesn’t include an F chord. Since there are seven notes in music (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), the F and B chords are often left out of the CAGED framework.
So, what is the F chord, and how do we fit it into CAGED?
When most guitarists think of an F chord, they picture the big, difficult barre chord that looks like this:
While this can be painful to fret, it’s not commonly used by professionals due to its challenging finger placement. Interestingly, beginner teachers often insist on this big F chord, despite not typically performing, writing songs, or recording albums themselves…
But don’t worry—we can make it easier and more useful!
You don’t need to fret the entire chord. Instead, focus on the following variations:
- F5: Play only the bottom three strings (no 3rd in the chord).
- Play strings 2-4, which gives you a solid, manageable F chord, this is probably the best option for electric guitar rhythm playing.
- Play strings 1-3 for a slightly different voicing of an F, it may sound a bit thin.
- Play strings 1-4 for a fuller sound of an F chord, this sounds best in isolation, whereas 2-4 is bets in context.
- F/C: Play strings 2-5, which can also be described as an F/C. This version offers a big sound without the need for a full barre.
I personally use the F/C version in several beginner acoustic songs. It gives you the full sound of an F chord without the need for painful barring, making it a more practical solution for many players.
Most people think of an F chord as described above—a chord in isolation—but what we actually played in the previous section was an E-shaped F chord. Let me explain the technical side of it.
An E chord, when turned into an E shape and moved to fret 1, becomes an F chord.
This method of moving shapes around the neck is central to the CAGED system, and it’s what allows us to easily find and play chords in different positions on the fretboard.
Let’s explore further—next up is the D-shaped F.
Let’s Move Up the Neck and Find the Rest of the F Chords in the CAGED System: The D Shape
Now, let’s explore the F chord in the D shape. This one can also be tricky to fret, but there are ways to make it more manageable.
Just like with the F chord in the E shape, playing the full version can be difficult, especially if you try to use all the strings. It’s simply uncomfortable and unnecessary.
However, there are several ways to simplify this:
- F5: You can play it as an F5 by skipping the top string, which makes it easier to fret.
- For a fuller F chord, you can ignore the 4th string, as the root is on string 2, it’s still an F.
Again, remember that trying to play all the strings in the D shape can be uncomfortable. Instead, focus on just the strings that are essential for creating a good-sounding F chord.
Once you begin extending the D shape, all the chords become easier to fret when using the full shape. For more on this, check out the D chord/shape section, where we dive deeper into its extensions.
F Chord (C Shape)
The next F chord we’re looking at is in a C shape. As with the previous shapes, the full C shape can feel awkward to fret, it looks like this:
If you find it difficult to play the full C-shaped F chord, don’t worry! Instead, let’s break it down into fractions for easier playability.
- Strings 3-5: This part of the shape works, but it’s not ideal. It’s possible to use this fraction, but it’s not as clean as the others.
- Strings 2-4: This is my personal favourite! In my opinion, this is the best way to play a triad on the electric guitar. It’s simple, effective, and sounds great in context.
- Strings 1-3: This fraction works well too, but it’s essentially the same as the D shape we previously discussed, so you’ll notice similarities when playing this version.
Breaking the chord into these smaller sections makes it easier to play without the frustration of trying to barre all six strings.
The C shape provides a solid foundation, but by focusing on the most practical and comfortable sections, you can still achieve a smooth and musical sound.
F Chord (A Shape)
The A-shaped F chord is a challenge. In fact, I would go as far as saying it’s nearly impossible to play in its full form comfortably.
Below is a breakdown of the various playable fractions of this chord.
Possible Fractions:
- Strings 3-5: This gives us an F5 chord, which works because there’s no 3rd, making it a more straightforward version.
- Strings 2-5: This is a complete F chord, though it can be a bit tricky to fret. It’s doable but may require some extra effort, try barring strings 2-4.
- Strings 2-4: This is another complete F, and in my opinion, it’s a great version to play. It gives a full sound without being too difficult to manage.
- Strings 1-3: This is also a complete F, and it’s another solid choice. It’s more manageable than the full A-shape barre and sounds great.
Finally, strings 1-5: This feels awkward and, in many cases, may even be impossible to play. It’s definitely not a practical choice unless you’re aiming to challenge yourself for the sake of frustration.
Only the most sadistic beginner teachers would insist on making you play this full version!
F Chord (G Shape)
The G-shaped F chord is essentially impossible to play in its full form, so don’t even attempt it. However, it’s useful to visualise it as part of the CAGED system.
Here are the possible fractions of the G shape for the F chord:
Possible Fractions:
- Strings 4-6: This fraction is possible but not ideal. It’s hard to get a clean sound, and it’s not very practical for most uses.
- Strings 3-5: This is better than the previous fraction, but still not great. It’s easier to play, but the sound lacks clarity.
- Strings 2-4: This fraction is really good and offers a solid F chord. However, it’s essentially the same as an A shape, which we’ve already covered.
- Strings 2-4 without the 3rd: This gives us an F5 chord, which is not terrible but doesn’t give us the full, rich major chord sound. Looking above; fret 13 on string 2 needs to be played, not fret 10.
- Strings 1-3: With the 3rd, this gives us a basic F chord, but it still doesn’t sound as full or as clear as the other shapes.
The G shape is arguably the weakest of the CAGED shapes when it comes to building a simple major chord. It’s more difficult to fret and doesn’t offer the same clarity as other shapes, especially when we are focusing on a basic major triad.
However, as you might have seen in the G chord/shape video, things improve once we start extending the chord. When we add arpeggios, modes, and other extensions, the G shape becomes much more useful.
So, while the major triad in the G shape isn’t ideal, the other chord extensions are just as effective as in the other CAGED shapes.
F Chord Summary
That’s all the F chords covered. We’ve explored the E shape, D shape, C shape, A shape, and G shape, and while each of these shapes is technically playable, they are nearly impossible to master if you insist on playing all the strings in their full form.
The key takeaway is that each F chord should be played in fractions, not the entire shape.
Next time you encounter an F chord, remember that you have five areas to work with, and each should be played in fractions. Trying to play all the strings at once will only lead to frustration and discomfort, so focus on the fractions that fit best.
To help you move smoothly between these chord shapes, practice with real songs. Applying the F chord in musical contexts will make it much easier to transition between shapes. For example, you’ll encounter an F chord in songs like The Drugs Don’t Work, One More Cup of Coffee, and Rewind.
As you progress and dive deeper into understanding arpeggios and major scales, all of the CAGED shapes you’ve learned become a tool for creating:
By breaking the F chord into its fractions and integrating it into real songs, you’ll find it easier to play and extend within the broader context of the CAGED system.
The F Chord | Related Pages
Guitar chords
You can learn how to build all minor and major guitar chords using the so-called CAGED system.
This system is the foundation upon which we extend chords and build arpeggios and modes. Mastering this system opens up the fretboard and gives you the tools to play more complex progressions.
The Fm chord
By now, we’ve covered all the CAGED shapes and learned how to play any chord anywhere on the fretboard.
With the Fm chord, we put this knowledge to the test, ensuring that we can navigate the fretboard by identifying the F chord in each of its five shapes.
Understanding this helps solidify your ability to move freely across the fretboard, no matter the chord.
Beginner Acoustic
This collection of beginner acoustic songs will teach you how to arrange for one acoustic guitar, as well as how to create a supporting part.
Playing songs will help you with switching between open-position chords and give you the context you need to understand how music works theoretically.
These practical lessons make the transition to more complex chords easier.
Intermediate Acoustic
Most intermediate acoustic tunes can’t be played using just basic open-position chords. As we move up the fretboard, we start using CAGED barre chords and incorporate bass lines, add licks, extend chords, and even play vocal melodies.
Most importantly, we’ll be inventing second guitar parts and playing these songs together, building a deeper understanding of how to arrange music and play it cohesively.
