Guitar Chords: Learning Power Chords for Guitar

The power chord is one of the most commonly used chord in rock, and metal guitar playing. A power chord, has so much power when used during a song. When you hear a power chord you can recognize it anytime, because of it’s heavy sound that it gives off.

What is a power chord?

• A power chord consists of just 2 notes, but you can add a 3rd note for a fattier sound, which is the octave.
• A root note, and  a 5th note from a scale
• You can add the octave as well to give the power chord a fuller/heavier sound.

Example: Key of C

• Let’s use the Key of C.
• C would be our root note
• The 5th would be G
• The octave note would be C, but 1 octave higher.

Let’s take a look on how power chords with appear in tab.

The circle on the 6th string is the root note, in our above example we used C. Next, our 5th string note would be G, and then our last note on the D string would be our octave C.

Root on 6th(E) string:

Root of 5th(A) string:

Root on 4th(D) string:

Tips:

• Power Chords are moveable around the neck

You might also be interested in...

• Learning Basic Guitar Chords to get you started- Part One
• 10 Helpful Practice Tips for Guitar
• Guitar Technique- Basic Harmonics (Natural Harmonic)
• Learning String Names and notes on the Guitar fretboard?
• Guitar Warm-ups and finger strength building exercises
• Guitar Technique: Palm Muting
• Learning the Pentatonic Scale
• Guitar Technique: String Bending
• Guitar Technique: Hammer-ons and Pull-offs
• How to tune a Guitar?