Power chords
What a power chord is
A free guitar lesson · 4 steps · about 6 minutes
Two notes, a lot of noise
A power chord is the simplest chord there is: a note, called the root, plus the fifth above it, which is the fifth note of the root's scale. Often the root is doubled an octave higher on top. It is written with a 5 after the letter: E5, A5, G5.
A power chord has no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It just sounds strong and solid. Played through a distorted electric guitar, it is the sound of most rock and punk music, and it sounds good on an acoustic too.
E5, A5 and D5
The three open power chords each use an open string as the root.
- E5: the open low E, plus fingers 1 and 2 on the A and D strings at the second fret.
- A5: the open A, plus fingers 1 and 2 on the D and G strings at the second fret.
- D5: the open D, plus finger 1 on the G string at the second fret and finger 3 on the B string at the third.
Play only the strings that are marked. The rest must stay silent.
The same thing in tab
e|----------------------
B|------------------3-3-
G|----------2-2-----2-2-
D|--2-2-----2-2-----0-0-
A|--2-2-----0-0---------
E|--0-0-----------------
E5 A5 D5Keeping the other strings quiet
The hard part of a power chord is not holding it but not playing everything else. Two tricks:
- Let the underside of your fretting fingers lightly touch the strings below the chord. They mute them, so even if your pick hits them, they make only a dull click.
- Aim your strum. Start on the root string and stop after three strings. A short, controlled movement from the wrist works much better than a big sweep from the elbow.