Guitar Struming?

Question

If you are going to play a note that uses the frets of the top 3 strings (right hander person) would you strum on all 6 strings or just the strings that have the frets presed down?

For American Idiot or Holiday

Answer 1

depends on what the tab says.
give more info.

Edit:
Well, Iv'e just checked the tab for American idiot on 'ultimate guitar.com.'
Yes, for most of the song, (that is basically the main riff), you only strum the 3 notes that you hold down, and not all 6 strings.

If the tab has a '0' underneath it, it means that you strum that string openly, literally WITHOUT pressing or touching that particular string on the fretboard (like when you just pick a string without using your left hand to press anything)

If any tab has an 'X' in it, it means that you also strum that string, but by TOUCHING it with your chord hand but not pressing it down (muted)

Example 1:

Title: American Idiot
Artist: Green Day

Part of Main Riff (only play the strings that are shown basically)

|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-----------6-6-6--------------6--|
|--6-6-6--6-6-6--4-4--6-6-4--|
|--6-6-6--4-4-4--4-4--4-6-4--|
|--4-4-4-----------2-2--4-2-----|


Example 2:

Part of the begginning of the solo of American Idiot:

Play this chord the same way but 'touch' the string with your chord hand, marked 'X'.

|---------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------
|-1010101010101010101010
|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
|--8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8
|----------------------------------------



Example 3:

-----3------
-----0------
-----0------
-----0------
-----2------
-----3------

Strum all strings in this chord, the 0's are 'open', no need to press the 0's down.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

It all depends on the chord formed or the sound you want. One typical chord would be G major in the second fret having three open strings (32OOO3).