Hi Ted, old buddy.

Lemme disagree back at you (not that this is terribly critical). Keeping in mind that we're talking to a novice here:

I started playing 40 (!?!) years ago, and I still have trouble fretting those three strings of the A chord with a single finger without simultaneiously half-muting the top E string. I get it more effectively with middle finger on the B string and index on the other two (and partially on the B ~ not tight enough to work on its own without the help of that middle finger). I actually find it easier to play the "long A," with index across the four highest strings and pinky on the top string at the fifth fret.

A beginner would probably have similar trouble making a one-fingered open A, and even more trouble reaching the fourth fret while holding tight, let alone reaching the fifth fret with the pinky.

Not that walking the bass in A (or E) is impossible, or even terribly difficult after enough practice, but it sure ain't as falling-off-a-log easy as it is in C.

I thought I might be more open to criticism on the subject of that variation of the up-the-neck D chord which "becomes" an E-minor-something when the strings are sounded and muted in the right combination. This is something I discovered recently, and I'm not sure I have it exactly right. Also, I'm sure that the chord, which includes at least one extra "dissonant" note in addition to the normal components of a straight Em, has its own name ~ but I don't know that name, nor do I know enough music theory to deduce the name (which I assume is possible).