| What if there was a simple way to take the fire out of | | | | Now that we've learned F major 7, it's time to learn D |
| the F chord? I'm here to tell you, there is. | | | | minor 7. |
| The trick sounds counter intuitive: instead of muscling | | | | D minor 7 is a little harder, because it contains that |
| your way through the F chord, we're going to learn | | | | two-string bar on the first fret that makes the regular |
| two other related chords first. These chords will help | | | | F chord so challenging until you've built up your finger |
| your hand become accustomed to doing the two | | | | strength and calluses a bit. |
| things that make the F chord difficult at first. | | | | However, the D minor 7 doesn't involve using the ring |
| Once you've had a chance to work these two chords | | | | finger to fret that 3rd fret 4th string F note. Which |
| for a while, you'll find the F chord naturally comes into | | | | means it's a simpler chord than the regular F and |
| your hand. | | | | doesn't require as much finger separation and |
| So, without further ado, please let me introduce you to: | | | | stretching to reach the full chord. |
| the F major 7 chord and the D minor 7 chord. | | | | Here's how to make D minor 7: use your first finger as |
| Hang on, hang on-I know those chords at first sound | | | | a bar over the 1st fret of both the 1st and 2nd strings. |
| intimidating. But trust me, they're both a heck of a lot | | | | That's the tricky part. You might have to work on it a |
| easier to finger than the F chord that's been driving | | | | bit to be able to make both notes sound nice as you |
| you crazy. | | | | play those strings. |
| So, let's get busy making F chord miracles happen. | | | | To finish up the D minor 7 chord, use your middle finger |
| The F major 7 will be our first stop for two reasons: 1) | | | | to fret the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. And then just play |
| it's easier to play than D minor 7 and 2) we can | | | | strings 1 through 4 with an open 4th string that gives |
| actually use F major 7 in many situations where the | | | | you the D bass note. |
| dreaded normal F chord is called for. So it's a | | | | So that's D minor 7-a mysterious minor-sounding chord |
| substitution that sounds really beautiful and helps you | | | | that, if you look closely, resembles a piece of the |
| begin playing any song that calls for an F before you | | | | regular F chord. |
| can really get the full F to sound. | | | | If you can't play both of those chords separately, you'll |
| To make an F major 7, you basically create a diagonal | | | | never be able to play the regular 4-string F all together. |
| line with your index, middle and ring fingers. The index | | | | So work at it until both of those chords-the F major 7 |
| finger goes on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. The middle | | | | and the D minor 7-come into your hand and stop giving |
| finger goes on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. And the | | | | you problems. |
| ring finger goes on the 3rd fret of the 4th string. | | | | Since the regular F chord is just the combination of |
| To play the full F major 7 chord, you strum those three | | | | both the D minor 7, including its pesky first-fret |
| fretted strings plus the open 1st string. So, four strings | | | | two-string bar, with the F major 7's diagonal extension |
| in all combine to create F major 7. Go ahead and | | | | of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers across the 1st, 2nd and |
| strum it now. | | | | 3rd frets of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings, you'll find your |
| Sounds nice, doesn't it? It has a really sweet, almost | | | | hand readily making the regular F without fear or |
| haunting sound. This chord will often work instead of | | | | frenzy. |
| the full F chord. Try it out whenever you come across | | | | And that's how to make a regular F chord in a nutshell! |
| an F chord in a song, and see if it works for you. | | | | |
