Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: Do you like to strum open chords?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    57

    Default Do you like to strum open chords?

    Are there any players that are outstanding at it?

  2. #2
    Registered User RandyC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    45

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    I may not be outstanding at it but I do like strumming open chords. I love the sound of open chords on the mandolin.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Yes.
    I love the resonance and sustain of certain open chords.
    Its a lot of sound, too.

    I can use it too for certain disonant chords especially due to more sustain.
    I think i use them for ballads, folk songs, even blues and rock.

    I use them sometimes for intros where i want to build anticipation for the more solid beat of a chop, sorta going from softer focus to definition.



    I use to fill out certain parts of a song, a break from a chop.
    Use them too for arpegiated fills.

    Its just a different color.
    Last edited by stevedenver; Feb-02-2018 at 9:02am.

  4. #4
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Oxfordshire, England
    Posts
    656

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Yes, my preference may of course be a reflection more on my abilities rather than the inherent qualities of "closed" chords

  5. #5
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Auburn, Washington
    Posts
    1,553

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Yes... but not all the time. Sometimes it's fun to not chop and just strum. I guess it all depends how the music feels and the sound I'm looking for.

  6. #6
    Registered User Sherry Cadenhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Irving, TX
    Posts
    925

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    What is the difference between an open and closed chord?

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    1,971

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    "Open" chords utilize some open strings. Closed chords have fretted notes for each voice of the chord.
    Steve

  8. #8
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    As Steve said.

    One main difference is that because closed chords have a finger over each string involved, they can be chopped. Not easy to chop an open chord.

    I use open chords for songs and stuff. I sometimes use a down beat sort of ukulele strum.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  9. #9
    Registered User Ky Slim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    588

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    I love to strum open chords and play the open strings in general. I really do. They sound great and I swear it's therapeutic. Now, without sounding like a complete smart aleck - Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien, Mike Marshall and Chris Thile are all outstanding at utilizing open chords and open strings in their playing.

  10. #10
    Registered User Ken's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    In Illinois, halfway between here and there.
    Posts
    584

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    In addition to using open chords when I think it works well with the music, for me commonly Irish and Scottish folk, I also like to hit at least one open pair for a drone effect when playing some melodies (Angeline Baker, Ragtime Annie, etc.)
    Peace

  11. #11
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    The open chord two finger G major is much more beautiful than the four finger bluegrass G major chord. IMO.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  12. The following members say thank you to JeffD for this post:


  13. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    4,881

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Jesse McReynolds does it most all the time, I don`t recall him doing any chops...He does play some "closed" chords at times but not many chops....

    Willie

  14. The following members say thank you to Willie Poole for this post:


  15. #13
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    South of Cleburne, North of Hillsboro, Texas
    Posts
    5,089

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    I like to use them; IMO placing some "big" open chords for effect sounds great, especially when you're playing solo with vocals. When you can get away with a D7 like 5-0-0-2 or that beautiful partial C at 0-5-3-0 it can be a really cool sound, and there are so many other cool open voicings.

    Outstanding payers? I think there are many, many (probably most of the modern) outstanding players who do it. One example, Sam Bush plays Girl of the North Country using:

    G: 0-0-2-3
    C: 0-5-3-0
    D: 2-0-0-2
    Em: 0-2-2-3
    C: 0-2-3-0

    You can find more examples than you might think of outstanding use of open chords by world class players.
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
    ----------------------------------
    "Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN

    ----------------------------------
    HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
    Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
    The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
    - Advice For Mandolin Beginners
    - YouTube Stuff

  16. #14
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Yes.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  17. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Kernersville, NC
    Posts
    2,593
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Open chords can break the sameness on a tune. I use them when it fits. Angelina baker comes to mind. Switching to open chords lightly behind half of a guitar break gives the chop rhythm a kick on the second half. Imo of course

  18. #16
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Ashland, OR
    Posts
    141

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    For example, a simple song like "Wayfaring Stranger" sounds great in Dm. Chords are Dm, Gm, Bb, F, and A. Strum the Dm with 2-0-0-1 and the Gm with 0-0-1-3. Boom-chuck the G and D strings, and you've got an earful of melancholia. Love it!

  19. #17
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    I love to strum open chords with an open mind and an open mouth. Thanks for asking!
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  20. The following members say thank you to Jim Garber for this post:


  21. #18
    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Ashland KY USA
    Posts
    244

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Yes. Open chords can be great. I use them most frequently on fiddle tunes the first time through when someone else kicks the tune off. I also like to use them when the guitar is taking a break and there is no need for both the mandolin and banjo to be the back beat snare drum while there is a gaping sonic hole where the rhythm guitar normally resides. I'm also a fan of open harmony notes in melodies, as someone else mentioned above, as taught to me by the Tottle book all those years ago.

  22. #19
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Richmond, Virginia
    Posts
    7,635

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    it's hard.
    I do it.
    Melody's easier.

    No joke, I play in a duet and we work up sets and such. When guitar-buddy takes melody (finger-style DADGAD) and I'm strumming, "Meaningful" backup, there's a lot of exposure. Downbeat chopping in a trio or better, is pretty straight. I really do have issues being, "Musical" when chording!

    f-d
    ¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

  23. #20

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    I've been playing my flattop tuned FCAC, some nice open chord strums out of that. Hard to beat a 12 string guitar tuned DADGAD though for open chord strumming.

  24. #21
    Registered User T.D.Nydn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Upstate N.Y.
    Posts
    1,331

    Default Re: Do you like to strum open chords?

    Do I like to? Yeah,I guess so.I don't hate it....

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •