F F major
133211Barre · 1st fret
xx32113 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings.
Beginners · Guitar
Easy guitar chords: simple versions of hard chords
Barre chords like F, B and Bm stop a lot of beginners in their tracks. Every chord below has an easier shape that sounds good and needs no full barre. Each one says honestly what it leaves out, so you know when it’s worth learning the full version.
- 30 chords made easier
- FBmBB♭F♯mC♯mGmC♯E♭F♯A♭E♭mFmA♭mB♭mF7F♯7A♭7…
- Why easy versions work
- Playing only the top strings keeps the notes that give a chord its character. In a band — or with a bass or piano — the missing low notes are covered anyway.
Barre · 1st fret
3 fingers, no full barre
Bm B minor
x24432Barre · 2nd fret
xx04022 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has D rather than B as its lowest note.
B B major
x24442Barre · 2nd fret
xx44424 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has F♯ rather than B as its lowest note.
B♭ B♭ major
x13331Barre · 1st fret
xx03313 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has D rather than B♭ as its lowest note.
F♯m F♯ minor
244222Barre · 2nd fret
xxx2221 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 3 strings, has A rather than F♯ as its lowest note.
C♯m C♯ minor
x42120Open position
xx21203 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has E rather than C♯ as its lowest note.
Gm G minor
310033Open position
xx03331 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has D rather than G as its lowest note.
C♯ C♯ major
x46664Barre · 4th fret
xx31214 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has E♯ rather than C♯ as its lowest note.
E♭ E♭ major
x68886Barre · 6th fret
xx50433 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, leaves out the perfect 5th (B♭), has G rather than E♭ as its lowest note.
F♯ F♯ major
244322Barre · 2nd fret
xx43223 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings.
A♭ A♭ major
466544Barre · 4th fret
xxx5442 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 3 strings, has C rather than A♭ as its lowest note.
E♭m E♭ minor
x68876Barre · 6th fret
xx43424 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has G♭ rather than E♭ as its lowest note.
Fm F minor
133111Barre · 1st fret
xxx1111 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 3 strings, has A♭ rather than F as its lowest note.
A♭m A♭ minor
466444Barre · 4th fret
xxx4441 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 3 strings, has C♭ rather than A♭ as its lowest note.
B♭m B♭ minor
x13321Barre · 1st fret
xx33214 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has F rather than B♭ as its lowest note.
F7 F dominant 7th
131211Barre · 1st fret
x012114 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 5 strings, has A rather than F as its lowest note.
F♯7 F♯ dominant 7th
242320Open position
xx43203 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings.
A♭7 A♭ dominant 7th
464544Barre · 4th fret
xx11124 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has E♭ rather than A♭ as its lowest note.
B♭7 B♭ dominant 7th
x13131Barre · 1st fret
xx03343 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, leaves out the perfect 5th (F), has D rather than B♭ as its lowest note.
Cm7 C minor 7th
x35343Barre · 3rd fret
xx13134 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has E♭ rather than C as its lowest note.
Fm7 F minor 7th
131111Barre · 1st fret
xx11111 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has E♭ rather than F as its lowest note.
F♯m7 F♯ minor 7th
242220Open position
x022221 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 5 strings, has A rather than F♯ as its lowest note.
Gm7 G minor 7th
31303xOpen position
xx33331 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has F rather than G as its lowest note.
A♭m7 A♭ minor 7th
464444Barre · 4th fret
xx44441 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has G♭ rather than A♭ as its lowest note.
B♭m7 B♭ minor 7th
x13121Barre · 1st fret
xx33244 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has F rather than B♭ as its lowest note.
Fmaj7 F major 7th
132210Open position
xx32103 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings.
F♯maj7 F♯ major 7th
243322Barre · 2nd fret
xx33223 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has E♯ rather than F♯ as its lowest note.
Gmaj7 G major 7th
324003Open position
xx00021 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, has D rather than G as its lowest note.
A♭maj7 A♭ major 7th
465544Barre · 4th fret
x350444 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 5 strings, has C rather than A♭ as its lowest note.
B♭maj7 B♭ major 7th
x13231Barre · 1st fret
xx03353 fingers, no full barre
The easy version uses only 4 strings, leaves out the perfect 5th (F), has D rather than B♭ as its lowest note.