You're sort of touching on jazz theory and the concept of alternate voicings (or differentiating chord changes) which of course can be applied to other types of music. (Caution though. If you start getting too fancy with alternate chords especially in folk or trad tunes, the "traddies" will eat you alive! but follow your own ears and instincts and play what pleases YOU.) This is not something that can be learned immediately but rather through experimentation and osmosis over a period of time, and requires a fundamental grounding of how chords are formed, and their relative minors, majors, 7ths, etc., which can melodically replace regular, standard chords and provide a different coloring to the sound.

To get you started, here are some links which I think you will find helpful. In particular check out anything to do with online lessons, explanations and things related to chords and theory. Hope this helps.

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