What is the difference?

[xxpigxx]

Okay. I am going to play a D.

What is the difference of playing an open D as opposed to the 5th fret on the A string?

[Dogbertday]

tone... just listen to it.... there's no other difference

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by xxpigxx

Okay. I am going to play a D.

What is the difference of playing an open D as opposed to the 5th fret on the A string?

Somewhat of a different tone, from the difference in fret from the nut matreal, the fretted one has a shorter string length, and thickness of the string, they are the exact same note though.

[J. Crawford]

Actually, the 5th fret on the A string sounds better.

Fact.

[xxpigxx]

The open D does have a . . . thinner tone, where the fretted A is thicker.

That is the only difference then.

I was just asking because sometimes it seems easier just to play the open D. :S

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by xxpigxx

The open D does have a . . . thinner tone, where the fretted A is thicker.

That is the only difference then.

I was just asking because sometimes it seems easier just to play the open D. :S

Yup, thats all there is, thicker string has the thicker tone, fyi, the same note is also at the 10th fret on the low E string.

[dvh]

Originally Posted by xxpigxx

The open D does have a . . . thinner tone, where the fretted A is thicker.

That is the only difference then.

I was just asking because sometimes it seems easier just to play the open D. :S

So play it. On DB players use the open strings a lot to maintain intonation.

[steveksux]

The other difference is if you avoid using open strings, you can play the same line in any key by moving up/down/across the fretboard.

Randy

[flea claypool]

effort