Learn Power Chords

Power chords are one of the most popular chord forms used in popular music today. The use of power chords originated with the blues and is now most commonly heard in rock,pop and and heavy metal music.

Power chords are an essential element in the tool box of any aspiring guitarist. Fortunately, they are very easy to learn and can be played anywhere on the guitar neck. I’ll explain in detail what a power chords is, how to play power chords and then we’ll give it a try using an excerpt from Eric Clapton’s famous song, “Cocaine”.

How to construct a power chord

A power chord is comprised of only two notes, the root and the fifth of the chord you’re using.

A “G” power chord, for instance is made of the root of the G major scale, which is G and the 5th of the G major scale, which is D.

Playing the G and D together gives you a two note power chord.

Most often, you’ll see the root of the chord repeated an octave higher, which gives you a fuller and more complete sound. A power chord is written in music as the root of the chord and the number 5. In this example, a G power chord is written G5. A G5 chord looks like this:

Two note G5 chord

e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|------5-------------------------------------------|
E|------3-------------------------------------------|

Three note G5 chord

e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|------5-------------------------------------------|
A|------5-------------------------------------------|
E|------3-------------------------------------------|


When playing power chords, the first finger of your fretting hand plays the root note on the bottom string, your third finger plays the 5th and if necessary, your 4th finger plays the octave. Some players prefer to fret both the 5th and octave with their third finger. Experiment with both and do whatever feels most comfortable.

Take care to play only the strings indicated when playing a power chord, if you mistakenly strum extra strings, you’ll be playing notes that are not part of the chord and you won’t get the sound you’re looking for.

As you can see, the root of the chord ( G ) is played on the sixth string while the 5th ( D ) is played on the fifth string. The additional G note in the three string example is played on the 4th string and is exactly one octave higher than the root. You can also play power chords with the root note on the fifth string. For example, a D5 chord starting on the fifth string looks like this:

Two note D5 chord

e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|------7-------------------------------------------|
A|------5-------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|


Three note D5 chord

e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|------7-------------------------------------------|
D|------7-------------------------------------------|
A|------5-------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|


Moving Power Chords Around the Neck

One of the most useful features of power chords is that you can play them in the same shape at any position on the neck of the guitar. To play an F# power chord, for example, start with your fingers in position to play the G5 chord and simply move each of your fingers down 1 fret so that the root note is on the sixth string, second fret. The 5th would be on the 5th string, 4th fret ( C# ) and the octave on the 4 string, 4th fret ( F# ).

You can use the same chord shape starting with the root note on the fifth string, the 5th on string 4 and the octave, if desired on the third string. In this way you can play a power chord from any root note that you wish.

Keep in mind that you can play an E5 chord with the sixth string open and the 5th and octave played at the second fret on the fifth and fourth string. The same shape starting on the fifth string gives you an A5 chord.

E5

e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|------2-------------------------------------------|
A|------2-------------------------------------------|
E|------0-------------------------------------------|


A5


e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|------2-------------------------------------------|
D|------2-------------------------------------------|
A|------0-------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|


Since power chords do not contain the third note of the scale, they are neither minor nor major chords. The third note of each scale ( for example, B in the key of G ) is the note which determines whether a chord is major or minor. A major third gives you a major chord and a minor third ( Bb in the key of G ) gives you a minor chord. What this means for you as a guitarist is that a G5 chord will work well when the rest of your band is playing either a G major, G minor or virtually any other type of G chord.

Putting Theory into Practice

Ok, so enough with the theory, it’s time to learn a song. For this example, I’ve chosen the tune, “Cocaine” by Eric Clapton. If you’ve never heard the song before, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3L4spg8vyo to listen and get a feel for how the song goes. The rhythm guitar part through the verses and chorus is relatively easy to learn and uses 3 note power chords exclusively.

The verse is simply a two bar section that repeats 4 times as follows:


e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----9-9-7-9---9-7---------------------------------|
D|----9-9-7-9---9-7---------------------------------|
A|----7-7-5-7---7-5---------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|


Listen to the song to get a feel for the rhythm. The final note is held throughout the second bar and the riff repeats itself starting in the third bar. Note that the riff alternates between an E5 and a D5 chord. Play the riff 4 times and then as Clapton begins to sing “She don’t lie …” there is a descending power chord sequence that goes like this:


e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----9--7--5--4------------------------------------|
D|----9--7--5--4------------------------------------|
A|----7--5--3--2------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|


The sequence goes from E5 to D5, then C5 and B5. Following this, the song goes back to the verse and repeats.

As you can see, power chords are fairly easy to learn and can add punch and an edgy feel to your playing. Power chords are indispensible for the aspiring rock and blues guitarist and can also be used with great effect in most other forms of music. Play around with a variety of power chords at all positions on the neck to get comfortable with them. Who knows, you might come up with ideas for some great new tunes!

Carry on with the learn how to play guitar chords guide to get the rest of the chords under your belt.