Guitar Lesson -- The Grand Barre F Chord

The ordinary F chord requires you to create a baby bar (or barre) on the first two

strings of your guitar, A grand bar F chord means that you will now have to create an artificial, or pretend nut across all six of your guitar strings using the side of your first finger.

Here's your basic, ordinary, run of the mill F chord:

[ X X 3 2 1 1 ]

You have to create a mini, or baby bar on the first two strings. Then your second finger goes on the third string second fret, and your third finger goes on the fourth string third fret. The fifth and sixth strings are not played.

Let's change the fingering of this chord while adding an extra note:

[ X 3 3 2 1 1 ]

You still need to bar the first two strings, and you will still put your second finger on the third string second fret, but we're going to change things around here a bit.

Instead of using your third finger to place on the fourth string third fret, use your fourth finger. Put your third finger next to it on the 5th string third fret. The sixth string is not played.

Let's talk about another chord for just a moment -- the E chord:

[ 0 2 2 1 0 0 ]

The usual fingering for this chord is to put your first finger on the third string first fret, your second finger on the fifth string second fret, and the third finger on the fourth string second fret.

But no one will arrest you if, instead of using fingers 1, 2, and 3, you use fingers 2, 3, and 4. Try this. It still sounds like an E chord doesn't it?

Now do this: Move this new-fangled E chord up one fret:

[ X 3 3 2 X X ]

Now take your first finger and bar the first two strings:

[ X 3 3 2 1 1 ]

Do you recognize this chord? Yep, it's our old friend the F chord.

Now what we're going to do is to create a grand bar F chord by extending the first finger across all six of the strings:

[ 1 3 3 2 1 1 ]

Your first finger is not going to to be happy with you when you first try this - especially if you have an acoustic, but trust me, you will be able to do this in a short time with just a little practice.

That's the grand bar F chord. Make sure that all of the notes are clear as a bell. Have fun. You're making music.

by: James Emery Vigh

POST COMMENT

Guitar Lesson -- The Grand Barre Bb Chord Guitar Lesson -- Building Strength In Your Fingers Guitar Lesson -- The Notes In The Open Position Learn To Play Easy Guitar Tabs Beginner Guitar Lessons: How To Play Guitar Chords Tips For Making Music Inexpensive Beat Software To Make Music Guitar Lesson -- What Is A Capo? The Importance of Live Wedding Music Guitar Lesson For Kids -- Playing The Guitar While Standing Attorneys In The Music Industry Specialize In Intellectual Property Rights Guitar Lesson For Kids -- Switching Between Chords Should You Buy A Left-handed Guitar If You Are Left-handed?