Ukulele · Chapter 8 of 24

F and G7: Three Chords, Many Songs

C, F and G7 are the three main chords of the key of C. With them you can accompany a huge number of songs.

Most simple songs in the key of C use three chords: C, the home chord; F, built on the 4th note of the scale; and G7, built on the 5th, which pulls back toward C. Musicians call them I, IV and V.

F

Middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the G string; index finger (1) on the 1st fret of the E string. The C and A strings ring open. Written 2010.

G7

Middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the C string; index (1) on the 1st fret of the E string; ring finger (3) on the 2nd fret of the A string. A little triangle. Written 0212.

A shortcut between F and G7. Both use the index finger on the 1st fret of the E string. When you change, leave it there and move only the others: it’s a pivot that keeps your hand in place. From Am to F it’s even easier: keep the middle finger on the G string and just add the index finger.

Hear what the chords do

Play C, F, G7, C and listen: F moves away from home, G7 leans hard toward home, and C settles it. That pull from G7 to C is one of the strongest sounds in music.

Changing in time

The secret of smooth chord changes is to move all the fingers of the new chord together, not one at a time, and to start moving a little early, on the last beat of the old chord. Practice the change on its own first: C to F and back, slowly, without strumming; then with one strum on each.

Practice. Play along with the C, F, C, G7 loop above for three minutes. Then open Mary Had a Little Lamb or Twinkle, Twinkle from the list below, choose “Strum only,” and play the chords with the song.

Remember

  • F = 2010, G7 = 0212; with C, they are the I, IV and V7 of the key of C.
  • Keep a common finger down when two chords share one.
  • Move all the fingers together, a beat early.

Songs that use this

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