The way I threw my full-sized guitar back on the rack and ran for my 3/4 size guitar when we really got into this lesson. Whew… gonna be stuck here for awhile!
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Anyone here decide to work with an in-person teacher for this? I love Justin but did not find the F chord lesson very helpful. I can’t even do a mini F. I have small hands. Can’t make any sound with it at all. And my arm, elbow and wrist hurt from having to apply ENORMOUS pressure just to make a muted sound. Thinking of going to a guitar shop, checking the action on my cheap Fender dreadnought and maybe working with a teacher. I’ve run through this thread, checked out many many videos here and elsewhere and I still can’t physically get close to making even a mini F. Honestly, guitar in the last 10 days has gone from a stress reliever and something that brings me joy to a becoming a source of stress and dread.
Hi George, this is exactly where to start. In fact, you might have a complete setup done. Others have commented on the incredible difference having their guitar set up makes on the ability to play it easily and cleanly. I’d suggest doing this, then returning to trying the F chord. If you still cannot play the F mini-barre, AND if you cannot play a clean F at a higher fret (say fret 5) or with a capo at fret 1, then consult a teacher.
FWIW, many of us (myself included) have small hands. It sometimes just takes us a bit longer to develop the stretch we need for some skills, but I’ve learned that we get there!
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Thank you for this. That is my plan this weekend, to get to a guitar shop. And this morning, before work, I just picked up the guitar and played some songs I know well pretty well just to feel the fun of it.
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I play a baritone ukulele as well as guitar and I wanted to get to grips with the F chord so that I could play songs on my guitar that I had learnt on the ukulele.
I reckon I’ve spent about two months and I’ve finally got a mini F chord that sounds reasonable.
I can only repeat what many others have said, keep practicing and suddenly you’ll find it’s sounds good.
Hope this encourages a few people as I know there have been times I’ve wanted to throw the guitar out of the window 
Ed
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I have my eye on a beautiful Taylor acoustic. If I splurge, I’ll keep my cheap Fender for throwing out the window
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I’ve got a cheap Fender as well, what a wonderful idea 
Update: went to a guitar shop. Tried a Yamaha A1M acoustic electric and fell in love. Tried others but this one felt right. And yeah, the action on my cheapo was WAY high. Truss rod loose and the neck had some kind of bump where it meets the body. Was not worth spending money to fix a guitar worth $100 (keep it for the beach).
I could actually see the difference in action immediately and then felt it right away. I actually played an f chord (wait, E chord on 5th fret?) and they all rang out. Couldn’t do it a second time but I’ll celebrate the 1. What a difference. 
And nailed a mini F first time when I got home. Joy.
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Congratulations George! That’s a lovely guitar you’ve chosen. I had a feeling today was going to be New Guitar Day for you. I guess we know what you’re doing this weekend! 
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F Chord is damn hard to play. i been trying for the last 3omin still can’t fully play all together. As saids that last 2 thinest string keep muting and unable to press hard enough.
Welcome to the forum Teoh
The F chord is all about technique you shouldn’t have to put that hard. Try getting your index finger in the right spot to fret the e and B string then place the rest of the fingers.
Also how bent id your wrist it should be as streight as possible, lift the neck of your guitar up more if needed.
You can also try playing it at the 5th fret(A barre chord) theres less tention up there.
Hmm… I actually think I’m not even pressing hard. Trying the mini F chord but cannot produce sound with the 2 highest strings unless I press harder.
I stopped doing the main F chord for now and have had no issues with the meaty part of the muscle.
The tip regarding thinking of the bar finger and thumb as a rotational force on the guitar neck was exactly what I needed, night and day difference for wrist tension and general feeling of smoothness.
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Welcome to the community! I hope you get it very soon, or you might have already got it!
“What works for you”. Work on getting an F Chord, and if its not the right way of doing it, make it a matter of concern later. Focus on 1. strength. There are many exercises that will help build the strength in your hands. 2. Start with an electric guitar, and make sure the set up is correct. 3. Focus on putting your 4 fingers down first, then the index finger. Imagine your finger and thumb is a Capo. 5. practice on the easier frets first, and make your way to the first fret. Do not give up, or give in. The F stands for “frustrating”. It can literally cause you to give up playing guitar. Don’t give up. It will happen.
That F chord is giving me nightmares but I am relieved to see that so many of you have struggled too. As I learn everything by myself - with Justin’s lessons- it feels a bit frustrating at times but I am soooo determined to get that F… chord right at some point. I don’t usually make any New Year’s resolutions but this year I did: I WILL NAIL THE F CHORD. Period. Let’s see if the Universe and the Force is with me on that 
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Try practicing it by barring it at the 5th fretthis is an A barre chord. Being 5 frets away from the nut the string tension is less and the frets are closer together.
Once you have this mastered move down to the 3rd fret this is a G barre chord and a little harder, then move to the F barre chord.
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Thank you, I will definitely try this. I also think that the action of the acoustic guitar I play with is way too high but as it’s a cheap steel-string one, there isn’t any truss rod inside so the action can’t be changed. I am really considering buying my own acoustic anytime soon: this one is quite bulky (it’s a 3/4 size) and after 7 months of practice I am not really comfortable with it even if the sound is kinda nice. In the meantime, I’ll do my homework!
