Oh yeah, I didn't go into the thumb at all ~ and now two people have mentioned it. I habitually fret the bottom E with the thumb for open D chord (at 2d fret) and for F (at first fret, instead of making a barre chord). Also in regard to the dreaded F, I generally hold down the top three strings (not just two) with the index so I can hammer that minor-third to major-third riff on the G string, just as for the E chord as I mentioned earlier.

Guy: you're right about that G with the extra D note (B string/3d fret). When I switched my fingering on the basic G chord, I pretty much gave up access to the formation of G that includes both that D note AND the high G (which does give a nice sound). I figured it was a worthwhile tradeoff for the increased flexibility. Of course, there's no reason why a person couldn't use both methods for fingering G (except for habit and sloth, I suppose).

M Ted: In that last post, I assume "the chord" ["You can actually play the chord as a single note--just put your index finger on the D string, second fret-and do the rest as I mentioned"] is A. I've never been able to play that chord that way while keeping my finger completely clear of the open top E string, and nowadays, thanks to my nemesis Arthur Itis, I have less flexibility in my knuckle joints than when younger, not more.

Ooops; I just looked back and now realize that your explanation covered played the "walking" bass without necessarily sounding the higher notes of the chord, and that is relatively easy. Perhaps I was overly concerned about controlling the full width of the fingerboard, either securely fretting or selectively muting every string. The more familiar I am with a gievn situation (with a song, and even with an entire key,) the more comfortable I eventually become with partial chords, leaving non-sounded strings open. I'm most comfortable and most experinced picking in C (e.g., Fishin' / Cocaine / Freight Train / Creole Belle / Aint No Tellin / Aint Nobody's Business / Richland Woman / Pallet on Your Floor / Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me / etc.), and don't mind going for a beat or two with a single finger on the neck. In less familar territory, I'm much more worried about keeping every string under control at every moment

And also: closed-position D chord, with thumb on the low E string, that you can move up and down the neck ~ are you talking about fretting the A and D strings both with one pinky? No freaking way, not with my skinny-ass aging fingers! And I'm sure that Martin, strong proponent that he is of the K.I.S.S. principle, would disapprove...

And yet another question, Ted: That C slid up two frets to D bears some relationship to B minor? Wow! I was amazed recently to learn how it could become a close approximation of E minor, which is not something I understood intuitively (despite the fact that I'd been hearing it for many years, wondering just what was being played). The thought that it could also serve as something akin to yet another seemingly-unrelated chord is a mindblower. But I have no doubt that you, as usual, know what you're talking about.

Have we drifted far enough away from Susan's original question?