IT’S SAFE TO say your first moments with a guitar probably involved one or more open strings, courtesy of the handful of 1st-position open chords (a.k.a. cowboy chords) that we all became acquainted with early on. Stalwarts such as open E, C and G shapes were reasonably playable, but even better, they sounded full and lively. As you started to learn an assemblage of tunes from your favorite bands and players, you discovered that open chords, as well as open strings in general, are everywhere. Here’s why: There’s nary a note on your guitar that sounds as full and vibrant as an open string. Go further down the open-string rabbit hole and you’ll find other benefits they provide, such as giving your playing a more modern sound, with added depth and color. Some of my favorite ways to use open strings to these ends were gleaned from one of my all-time favorite guitarists, the great Wayne Krantz.
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