Sequoioideae

I have three ways of doing a normal F chord.

Method 1 - Use your index finger to bar the two highest strings and your middle and ring fingers worry about fretting the G and D strings respectively.
E A D G B e
_ _ _ _ _ _
x x 3 2 1 1

Method 2 - Probably one of the hardest barre chords to nail when you are learning how to play. I don't lay my finger down flat when I barre the strings, I use the side of my index finger as it's a lot more comfortable. It took a long, long time to get it to ring through, and even longer for it to not cramp up my hand (I still get cramps if I play all barre chords on an acoustic for more than a few minutes)

E A D G B e
_ _ _ _ _ _
1 3 3 2 1 1

Method 3 - This is not so much an F chord, but I used to use it to play along to songs with an F chord when I first started. Switching from C to F was not fun, so I sort of cheated to play one of my favorite songs at the time. I use my pinky for the D, my ring finger for the A, my middle finger for the G, and my Index for the B.

E A D G B e
_ _ _ _ _ _
x 3 3 2 1 x

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Psy-Fi

"Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you'll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you're gonna be rewarded."
- Jimi Hendrix

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YorkeDaddy

If you're serious about playing guitar, invest in a better one and then you will no longer have problems playing an F chord. Seriously, crappy high-action acoustic guitars are hell to play even for experienced players. A nice guitar will feel and sound so much better.

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Cyril Sneer

Just practice and it will eventually come, once you get it you'll wonder why you were stressing about it.

A decent guitar would make it easier but it's not the be all and end all. I learned on relatively cheap guitars and I'm glad I did, they received a fair bit of punishment.

Vince

Step 1 - Capo 1st fret
Step 2 - Play a relative E chord

If you don't want to cheat, practice bar chords higher on the fret board. Your hands need strengthening.

Goofle

Big3, you ever tried to play "King of Carrot Flowers, Part 1"? Just keep trying buddy.

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TheBig3

I haven't. I guess I'll give it a shot.

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DriveYourCarDownToTheSea

After some 34 years of playing guitar, I still have issues with this chord as well. In particular, I've got an issue with short arms, and my left arm and wrist appear to be connected at odd angles, which makes it difficult for me to bend my wrist in the right angle. It's a bit easier higher up the frets, but my bar chords still tend to be a little sloppy.

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Stonedtone

I love digging into a bar chord F. Play it hard. The, Look What You've Done is a good example

JohnMur

I personally like using x33210 when playing within the key of C/Am and messing about with those chords. And yeah the F chord does suck when you are beginning!