Summing Up the Use

What are Open String Chords? · Arpeggi Jumping One String · Summing Up the Use · Why Burl Ives Didn't Give Chords for All Keys

First, I'll give you another version jumping two strings, not two between the two lowest pitched strings, but alternating, so both low to lower mid and lower mid to higher mid voice are larger spaced.

		E		A		D		G		B		E
C		0		X		3		X		1		3
Am		0		X		5		X		1		0
Am		0		X		5		X		1		5
G		3		X		0		X		0		3
D7		2		X		0		X		1		5

Why would the big gap be either between two lowest voices or two voices lowest and two voices midmost, in a four voice setting? Because that is good voice leading.

Now, one thing more. Just because two chord variants are on the same one of these seven tables doesn't mean they are the ones you have to alternate when playing a tune or accompaniment.

You try it out, between G - Am - D7 - G, G - Am - G, G - C - D7 - G, or any other sequence you want, which versions of each chord, irrespective of on what table, fit best with each version of the other ones.

If you had got the book by Burl Ives, Songs for Pickin' and Singin', he would have given you more or less. He would already have tested out which versions of G - Am - D7 - G go together best, so you wouldn't have need to test it out, and he would be giving such chords for lots of other keys than G major as well, that way, he would be giving you more than I did. But I have given you more versions than he did, that way I give you more of a choice - within G major./HGL

PS, there are lots of other styles than that of Burl Ives that use four chord arpeggi on the guitar. See for instance, Elvis Presley, "Wise men say 'only fools fall in love' but I can't help falling in love with you ..."

PPS - if you want to be an expert guitarist, putting all of your effort or even a good portion of it into open string chords is arguably lousy advice. Veritasium did a video on four things it takes to be an expert - apart from 10 000 hours. One of them is "deliberate practise" known also as pushing your limits. For this purpose, the hard on your fingers fully classical G chord for strumming all six strings is very ideal as a start. Burl Ives' in his "Songs for Pickin and Singin" taught guitar to people nearly only using it for keeping the key while you sing ... for people putting their main effort into singing and keeping the guitar slightly amateur or even very amateur. But one thing is sure in music : even amateur level preformances can sound good - unless you stay too long and start noticing the lack of variety. But even that can be mended, for instance if something else (the singing) adds sufficient variety./HGL