Open F tuning

The open F tuning is an alternate tuning that involves both increasing and loosening strings in the retuning process.

You should be aware that this tuning put some extra pressure on the guitar, since two of the strings must be retuned in a way that increases the tension on the neck. Notice that it doesn't work with an Open D tuning combined with a capo on 3rd fret since the tunings are not symmetrical. But you can use a capo on 1st fret with an E Ab B E B E tuning, which will emulate F A C F C F.

To get the open F tuning on your guitar you tune it like this: F A C F C F.

More info

Including an octave perspective, the tuning is written F2-A2-C3-F3-C4-F4, meaning that the lowest string is an F note on the second octave, the second lowest string is a A note on the second octave and so on. Standard tuning reference: E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4. For tuning to F major with a spider capo, use a 100011 configuration against an E A C F B E tuning.

Open chords

F

F5

F6

Fsus4

Gm7

Am7

Bb

Bbadd2

C5

Cadd11

Dm/A

Dm7

Comments

The Am7 doesn't include the fifth. Dm can be played with the root as the bass note as XX2420.

Some alternative fingerings:

F: 000005
F6: 002000
Am7: X00204

More chords in this tuning:

Fmaj7: 004400 / 004000
F7: 003000
Fmaj9: 000042
Fadd9: 000002
Fsus2: 030200
Bbsus2: X10000
Bbmaj7: X1X420
C: X3420X
C7: X34205 / X3453X

See below for pdf chord chart ("Essential Chords in Open F Tuning ebook") for many more voicings, progressions etc.

Barré chords

Ab

Bb

C

Comments

Obviously, more major chords can be played by laying one finger over all six strings in this opening. And there are more movable options:

C/E: X77777
C/F: 077777
C5/G: XX7777 / XX777X

Voicings

Bb/F

Fmaj7

Dm7/F

C/F

Comments

The Fmaj7 doesn't include the third and can be written Fmaj7(no3).

These are only a few of numerous ideas for voicings when you tune the guitar as F A C F C F.

Chord progressions

Progressions in this specific tuning:

F5 - Fsus2 - Bbadd2 - F

Bb/F - Fmaj7 - C/F - Dm7/F

The F tuning was favored by blues guitarist Albert Collins.

If you want to go more into depth of this particular guitar tuning, see the Essential Chords in Open F Tunings ebook with over 200 chord diagrams.

Alternative Open F tunings

Besides the FACFCF version presented here, there are some “alternative F Open tunings”. For example, Open Fmaj9 Tuning (FACGAE). Also, Open Fm Tuning (FAbCFCF), favored by Albert Collins, could be mentioned.

This was an introduction about chords in Open F tuning, see also Open E tuning and Open C tuning.