hey, Don- I learned to play an F chord like the Toxic Trooper,with the addition of fingering the A or fifth string on the third fret with my little finger. You can also use your thumb to finger the low E string. Since this is a moveable shape (meaning we can play this chord anywhere on the neck of the guitar as long as the same finger arrangement is used), practice playing the chord shape on, say, the fifth fret. This A chord has the same shape as the F but you'll be working against less string tension so you won't wear your fingers out as quickly. The same idea works with a barre chord-it's easier to learn the shapes playing in the middle of the neck when your index finger is working against less string tension. As your strength and dexterity improve you'll be more able to make the barred chord shapes on the first few frets.