Uncle Bob's Guitar Lessons
Lesson 6 - Chord Change Tricks
(Back to home / Back to contents)
Like the C to G Chord Change technique, this is a 'shortcut' method for switching between your C and F chords while playing. Traditionally, you play your C and F chords like the following:
This is especially difficult to master when playing a song that has several quick changes between C and F chords. Here's why this is so difficult:
- The index finger (1) has to jump from the C on the 2nd string to barre all 6 strings.
- The middle finger (2) has to jump from the E on the 4th string to the A on the 3rd string.
- The ring finger (3) stays in place on the 5th string.
- The pinky (4) has to be added for the F on the 4th string.
Instead of playing the traditional way, sometimes I prefer to use the following illustration, where the F chord is rearranged and abbreviated:
Once again, this is a lot less movement. Here's what happens:
- The index finger (1) only barres the first two strings.
- The middle (2) and ring (3) fingers have to move over just one string.
- The 5th and 6th strings are not played.
Optionally, you can use the above chord change and leave the 5th string open, resulting in an F/A chord: