F/A Chord
Open PositionThe easiest way to play F without a full barre. Index flat across the B and high e strings at fret 1 (C and F), middle on the G string at fret 2 (A), ring on the D string at fret 3 (F), and the open A string in the bass. Keep the low E silent — open, it sounds an E, which is not in the chord.
F/A Chord
3rd Fret · E-String BassA four-note shape with A on the low E at fret 5. Middle finger on the low E at fret 5, index on the D string at fret 3 (F), ring on the G string at fret 5 (C), pinky on the B string at fret 6 (F). The underside of the middle finger mutes the A string; keep the high e out of the strum.
F/A Chord
5th Fret · D-String BassThe four-string first-inversion grip: index flat across the G, B and high e strings at fret 5, middle on the B string at fret 6, ring on the D string at fret 7 for A in the bass. It is the same grip as the D/F# shape at fret 2, moved up three frets.
The beginner F
If the full F barre will not ring yet, play F/A. The index only has to hold down two strings, and all three notes of F are still there.
Mute the low E
The open low E is not in an F chord. Start the strum on the A string, or let the ring finger's tip rest against the low E.
Walk the bass
Play B♭ – F/A – Gm and listen to the lowest notes: B♭, A, G. That stepwise line is what the slash is for.
Graduate to the barre
F/A and the full F share the same top four strings. Once the index can hold two strings, try flattening it across all six at fret 1 and adding the low F.
Same grip as D/F#
The fret-5 shape (x-x-7-5-6-5) is the four-string D/F# grip moved up three frets. Learn it once and every first-inversion major chord is the same shape.
About the F/A Chord on Guitar
The F/A chord — said "F over A" — is an F major chord with A as its lowest note. It has the same three notes as F (F, A and C); A, the 3rd, is moved to the bottom, which makes it F in first inversion. For most guitarists F/A matters for a practical reason: x-0-3-2-1-1 is a complete F chord that needs no full barre, so it is the standard way to play F before the barre is comfortable. It is also a real slash chord with a job of its own — B♭ – F/A – Gm walks the bass down B♭–A–G in the key of F. This page covers three voicings: the open shape, a four-note shape with A on the low E at fret 5, and a four-string shape at fret 5. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 F/A chord shapes from beginner to intermediate
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Built from 3 notes: F, A and C, with A in the bass
- 05Open (no full barre), E-string bass, and D-string bass voicings
- 06Difficulty rating on every shape
- 07Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the F/A chord and their role in the major scale.
F/A is an F major triad — root, major third, perfect fifth — with its 3rd, A, as the lowest note. That is F in first inversion: the notes of F, with A on the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions
x-0-3-2-1-1 — index across the top two strings at fret 1, middle on the G string at fret 2, ring on the D string at fret 3, open A string in the bass.
F over A: an F major chord with A as the lowest note.
In most songs, yes. It has every note of F; only the bass is different.
In the key of F, between B♭ and Gm — B♭ – F/A – Gm walks the bass down B♭–A–G — and as the no-barre F in beginner songs.