I Had this for a while, the issue is likely your barre finger is you high or low with a joint of that finger resting on the b string. Try placing your barre finger probably higher so more of he finger tip protrudes above the top of the neck. I’d also recommend trying the F minor barre too as I found once I had the F barre ringing out and then tried to play F minor for the. First time the g string was muted and had to tweak again so try major and minor with barre in same position until both ring out.
Yup, tried it all, and even when I “get” it, it never sounds as good as just pressing down on the B string with the tip of 
my finger. Maybe need a callous right on that spot!
1 Like
I had issues with pretty much every variant of the “F”…
The mini-F was easier (but NOT easy) & I really struggled with the full barre F. So, after I had the “mini” down, I decided to play the full barre even when the song called for the “mini” - only I would only play the notes on the 4 highest strings… the D, G, B & high e… this “cheat” had 2 benefits, my picking accuracy from targeting only the 4 strings improved & my chord changes to & from the barre F got faster.
Win/Win!!! 
Tod
1 Like
I like that @CATMAN62 Tod. After the common year of struggle, I can use the full barre F pretty well; on the mini-F I’ve had a harder time getting both the B and e strings to ring out (spongy fingertip syndrome), and find that putting my finger almost directly on top of the fret helps. I think you want to be able to use both variants (and the triad) based on what fits the occasion. Anyone want to start a thread about the accursed B and B-flat barre chords? Still struggling with them.
2 Likes
It doesn’t really answer the question but my approach was just to crack on and learn the full F chord on the basis I was going to need it sooner or later. It’s taken time, daily practice over a period of months but I’m just about there (it’s only fast changes that are still a bit sloppy). That might sound like a slog but I’ve just practiced a few minutes a day on it and then moved on. My other advice is to start learning it before you have a song that needs it then there’s no frustration due to it blocking you from playing a song. Instead most people delay it as long as possible and then get annoyed when it doesn’t happen overnight
5 Likes
It’s not more difficult for me, but it is a different kind of difficult.
Full Barre Chord: reliably fretting the low E, B, and high E with the index finger
Mini-F: reliably fretting the B and high E with the top of the index finger
A question for the teachers: I learned the mini-F (way pre-Justin) as an easier version of the F chord. To me it was easier, and changing C to F (and back) was a lot easier. For a while, it was the only F chord I could play; later on I learned the full barre version.
However, many people seem to have more trouble with the mini-F than the full barre version. For those folks, does it make any sense at all to spend lots of time on the mini-F grip? I realize there are some instances where freeing up the pinky with the mini-F lets you play the high G (3rd fret, e string) and D (3rd fret, B string) notes, so there are some circumstances where the mini-F is required.
But I would suggest that if you are having trouble with the mini-F, but you can play the barre F, then skip the mini-F, you likely won’t need it. And if you do end up needing it for a particular song, well, then that’s when you should learn it.
Of course, I am not a teacher, so that’s why I’m asking the teachers’ advice.
I think you’ve got “top” and “bottom” mixed up. The thinnest strings are the top strings and the thickest are the bottom, in this context top and bottom refer to the pitch of the open string
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I can get it to sound good some of the time, which means I can do it…its just a matter of switching into the mini F quickly and obv having it sound good every time. Ill keep practicing.
1 Like
Yeah I definitely got them mixed up. I have a bit habit where I slip back into referring to the strings by there relative position instead of using the correct terminology.
I can’t play the mini F chord properly though I am okay with the Big F. The first string doesn’t ring. Do I still need to learn this chord? Big F contains all the notes that mini F has.
I would say that it is a good idea to have the mini F under your belt. Sometimes the mini F is easier to hit for certain songs. I know that mini F is used for House Of the rising sun. There is another I know but can’t think of the song right now.
The F chord should have the same notes from what I understand otherwise it would not be in the Family of the F chord. The main difference is the open strings that are involved. This can bring more variations, hammer ons and flick offs by using your pinky depending on the chord you are using. Fmaj7 is a good example. Opens the door for other variations.
I have the mini F in my list of chords and have and will use it in different scenarios depending on if I like the sound.
I think you should. But if you don’t have any practical purpose a.t.m. then probably not Necessary. But really nice to have in the repertoire of chords known.
A good reason to learn it would be it helps develop your first finger strength for barre chords. As well as other chords down the line that you will have to use your first finger to barre 2 strings and your third for 2 strings as well.
Hope this helps make a decision.
Rock on!
Darren
Thank you very much for your kind advice. I will keep practicing the chord for the next couple of weeks.
1 Like
I think “mini-F” usually refers to this chord grip xx3211. There are no open strings. This is the one many people have trouble with. Fmaj7 has no barre and is much easier than mini-F.
I think the poster (and others on this thread and elsewhere) have mentioned that they can play the barre F, so the learning the mini-F to gain strength for barre chords isn’t really relevant.
Yeah, I was thinking wrong there for a sec. For some reason I had it in my mind it was first 3 strings used for chord. Other than that, the embellishment with hammer ons and flicks off surely comes into place.
I found it helped me out with my barre. That pinching motion helped with that center muscle. I could feel it. The ones who can hit that F already have the muscle and wouldn’t necessarily “feel” it as much I’m thinking. “Isn’t really relavent” in my mind means it has a place. But non the less it is helping with that muscle and seems to have helped me. Anything to get that muscle going in my mind would be a good thing.
But that was me. Also helped with getting the mini A as well as other chords down the line
Rock on.
Darren
I’ve come back here to look at your mini-F after watching your “10 SING-ALONG SONGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ON GUITAR”, featuring Mini-F with thumb muting.
Mini-F without the mute is ok, but Barre F is so much easier than trying to mute that top string on a mini-F!
So I was pleased to note here that NITSUJ has found the same thing.
As soon as I try to use the thumb, I end up muting the bottom 3 strings. How do you do it? Is there a lesson somewhere that talks about that? I’ve struggled to match your F’s in the “10 Singalong songs…” with no success, while it looks so effortless on the video.
Like others have said, struggling with Mini- F - occasionally works- but can’t work out why. Seem to have to press very hard with the little finger. Watched J’s video again. Still struggling. Will keep plugging away, perhaps it was this way when I first did a D. Barre F is coming along.
What does the 7 in the name show / mean ?
Hi Grahame, the F major chord (without the 7) contains three notes: F, A, C - the first, third, and fifth notes of the F scale. (All major chords are formed in this way, where the scale used is that of the root note of the chord.) In the diagram for F major 7, you’ll notice the first string is played open. That adds the note E to the chord. E is the 7th note in the F major scale. Hope that helps!
1 Like
I immediately recognized the song “Aquarium” from “Nosaj Thing” when you played the FMaj7 to C progression. Can’t thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with us!