Use Power Chords on a Guitar

Power chords are the bread and butter of a rhythm guitarists and beginners everywhere. Power chords are more of a structure than an actual chord, and the two-fingered form can be moved up and down the entire fretboard without changing. Popular in blues, rock, punk, and some pop, power chords are an essential guitar skill to have.

Steps

  1. Put your first finger on any string and on any fret. For the sake of learning, start with it on the 3rd fret of the low E string. This note is a G. Wherever you start your index finger is the type of chord you'll be playing. If you started on the 5th fret of the E string you'd be playing an A power chord, for example.
  2. Place your third finger two frets up and one string higher than the index. Continuing the example of the G power chord, you place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the A string. This simple form -- two strings, two frets apart, is all you need for a power chord.
    • --X--
    • --X--
    • --X--
    • --X--
    • --5--
    • --3--
  3. Consider adding a third note, the octave, right below your ring finger. If you would like, add in an octave by simply barring your ring finger on the string below, here the D string. You can also use your pinky. Your final chord would look like this:
    • --X--
    • --X--
    • --X--
    • --5--
    • --5--
    • --3--
  4. Strum only the strings you're fretting. You can use the fleshy part of your index finger to lightly dampen the lower strings, resting on them so you can't hear them when you strum. However, unless you're making big, dramatic strumming motions you can just focus on playing the right strings.
  5. Slide your chord anywhere on the top two strings. Remember, power chords are movable; you can play them anywhere by maintaining this same shape and hand position. Start on the 5th fret, 5th string to play a D, slide down two frets and play an E. Come up a string to the 7th fret, 6th string and play a B power chord. You can move anywhere.
    • Remember that, in terms of written music, these chords are often written as fifths, like a G5 or an A#5. They will not be written out as "G power chord," or "G P.C."



Tips

  • 5th fret on the E string, 7th fret on the A string, *Optional* 7th fret on the D string.
  • This chord is easier to play on electric guitar, rather than an acoustic guitar.
  • Power Chords are just 5ths, and sometimes 5ths and Octaves. So just play a note anywhere and add in the fifth, which is 2 frets up and one string up, and possibly an octave, which is one string up from the 5th.

Warnings

  • As playing goes on, you might feel some distress or discomfort on your fingers, but soon you'll get used to playing and grow calluses.

Things You'll Need

  • A guitar, preferably electric.
  • A guitar amp.
  • A 1/4" cable.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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