For the benefit of Amos and Bobert, who should know better--open chords are also called open position chords, and are simply chords fingerings that have open, or unfretted notes in them(like the G, C, D, E and A that folkies seem determine to live and die with)-- closed position chords are chords which use only fretted notes(including, but not limited to, barre chords)--

First Idea--You can slide most of the chord positions up the neck and play other chords without changes your fingering position, the open strings are drones--try moving the E fingering up to the 6th and 8th frets--try moving the D to the 7th and 9th--you get the idea--

Second Idea--learn to play scales in each of the open chord positions--that way, you can play the melody, play fills, or even create solos--


Third Idea--mix major and minor open chord fingerings to play "Chord scales" --start with
D fingering on the 2nd fret, Dminor fingering on the 3rd fret, Dminor on the 6th, D on th 6th, D on the 9th, Dm on the 10th, Dm on the 12th, and 14th--

If you want to make this sound real cool, drop your low E string down to D (as Bobert suggests), and play all the strings--but it sounds real good, even if you don' t do this--