Open Strings

We've seen how Satriani uses some sophisticated concepts and techniques throughout his songs.

	As a compositional device: the Pitch Axis concept
	For clever rhythmic displacements and unusual accents: the hemiola
	To enhance and make otherwise (too) simple melodies more interesting: small phrasing embellishments like slides, backslides, etc..
	To broaden the melodic spectrum: exotic scales
	For a smooth, fluid sound: extensive use of legato playing
	To create otherwise impossible textures: innovative chordal tapping techniques

All these play an important factor in shaping his signature sound and offer great material for you to study and include in your own playing.

The downside

The downside is that most of these approaches require either considerable chops or more than basic knowledge about theory.

For a change, how about something that's really accessible?

Enter open strings.

Too many players neglect them and look past the potential and the increased options they offer, which is rather strange since open strings are always there and don't require any special technique (except for muting them) at all.

What's so great about open strings?

1. Open strings are great for bridging position shifts, giving you more time for actually getting your fingers in place again like in this short fill from The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing

2. You can play rather large intervals without problems, adding a nice pedal point effect like in Satriani's tune Time Machine.

3. In a harmonic context open strings can also help you with small intervals like minor and major seconds. Due to the guitar's tuning in mostly fourths those smaller intervals are quite hard to include and require considerable stretching abilities.

4. They add a unique open, ringing color and quality to your overall sound.
Take a look at:

	Not of this Earth
	Tears in the Rain
	I Believe

In a way you just have to become aware of them again so you don't “forget” using them.

Hopefully some of our examples out of Satriani's bag of riffs and tricks will give you a fresh perspective and provide plenty of inspiration as well as motivation to “remember” and keep open strings in mind.