Re: Explain This Chord
I believe your original question is predicated on splitting strings. By this I mean fretting only one of the G strings, for example. This is a special technique that some players use, but it is not easy to master. I have heard Jesse McReynolds and David Grisman do it, but it is not widely used.
You also seem to be calling the individual strings by a number, starting with the lowest first: GG DD AA EE would be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, if I am following you correctly. This is incorrect. The individual strings in a course are both called the same number, starting with the highest string: GG DD AA EE would be called 4 3 2 1, in that order.
When a note is described as ''second fret, second string,' it means to fret the A course (both strings) at the second fret. This is a B note.
A simple A chord on a mandolin is 2200, meaning you fret the fourth course (both strings) at the second fret and the third course (both strings) at the second fret and leave both the second and first course (all four strings) open. This is not actually a full A chord, because the 3rd (C#) is missing.
This should clear it up for you. I hope.
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