I never know whether to start a new thread or not for a different but related topic... I'll put the question here for now.

OK, I mentioned I'm hoping to teach one of my student to finger chords. What I'm trying to find is the best possible tuning/chord system. I want a tuning that will sound palatable when she is just playing around strumming the open strings, and I want a set of chords that will allow her to play 3-chord songs without being too demanding on the left hand.

Here's what I've come up with:

Open G tuning (DGDGBD)

G chord: strum all open strings, or preferably the top 5

C chord: fret an E (top string, second fret) and a C (second string, first fret) and strum the top 3 strings.

D chord (actually a power 7th chord, do they exist?): fret a C (second string, first fret) and an A (third string, second fret) and strum top 4 strings.

I am open to refinements on my plan, or suggestions of new approaches.

Standard tuning would probably provide the easiest way to to a group of three chords with none of this power 7th business, but standard tuning sounds so annoying when strummed open that I've pretty much ruled it out.

Marion