Power Chords: The Foundation of Rock Guitar
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
A power chord is two notes: the root and the fifth. No third means no major or minor quality. That's the point. Power chords cut through distortion cleanly and work over any progression.
[verse 2]
## The Shape
[verse 3]
For E5: index finger on the 6th string, ring finger two frets higher on the 5th string. Mute everything above with the underside of the index finger. Move the shape to the 5th fret of the 6th string and you have A5. Same shape, different position.
[verse 4]
You can also root power chords on the 5th string: index on the 5th string, ring finger two frets higher on the 4th.
[verse 5]
## Moving the Shape
[verse 6]
The root is always under your index finger. 3rd fret = G5. 5th fret = A5. 7th fret = B5. The shape never changes. Only the position moves.
[verse 7]
Common mistake: ring finger touching the 4th string when playing 6th-string-rooted chords. Curl it enough to clear. Distortion makes this problem very obvious.
[verse 8]
## Muting the Unused Strings
[verse 9]
With clean tone, unmuted strings are forgiving. Through distortion, they turn a tight power chord into noise. Let the underside of the index finger brush the higher strings lightly. Palm muting while strumming also helps.
[verse 10]
## A Basic Rock Riff
[verse 11]
On the 6th string: E5 (open) for two beats, G5 (3rd fret) for two beats, A5 (5th fret) for two beats, G5 (3rd fret) for two beats. Repeat with consistent down-strokes on each beat. This is the foundation of countless rock songs.
[verse 12]
## Questions and Answers
[verse 13]
**What is a power chord on guitar?**
A power chord (root + "5", e.g. E5, A5) contains just the root and the fifth - no third, so no major or minor quality. This makes it cut through distortion cleanly and sound neutral over any chord progression. It's the foundation of rock, punk, and metal rhythm guitar.
[Closing]
**How do you play a power chord on guitar?**
Index finger on the root string, ring finger two frets higher on the next lower string, remaining strings muted. The shape is fully movable - slide it anywhere to change the root note.