Power Chords

Power Chords are "short" chords usually with a Root - 5th - Root shape. Consequently they are written A5, B5, C5, etc. The most common power chord shape is one taken from the E shaped bar chord and the A shaped bar chord . Here are some examples:

E-bar Power Chords:
Chord String Note Interval Chord String Note Interval
A Major (E-bar): E A Root A Power Chord (E-bar): E A Root
A E 5th A E 5th
D A Root D A Root
G C# 3rd G Not Played -
B E 5th B Not Played -
E A Root E Not Played -

A-bar Power Chords:
Chord String Note Interval Chord String Note Interval
D Major (A-bar): E Not Played - D Power Chord (A-bar): E Not Played -
A D Root A D Root
D A 5th D A 5th
G D Root G D Root
B F# 3rd B Not Played -
E A 5th E Not Played -

The power chord looks exactly the same whether you use it with the root on the Low-E string or on the A string. If you looked at the E shaped bar chords or the A shaped bar chords, you will have noticed that there are 2 different movable shapes depending on if you are using the Low-E or A string as your root. Not here! Look at the examples below: 

    G5                  C5                  A5                  D5 

E-----              E-----              E-----              E----- 
B-----              B-----              B-----              B----- 
G-----              G--5-- (p)          G-----              G--7-- (p)
D--5-- (p)          D--5-- (r)          D--7-- (p)          D--7-- (r)
A--5-- (r)          A--3-- (i)          A--7-- (r)          A--5-- (i)
E--3-- (i)          E-----              E--5-- (i)          E-----
Isn't that nice? You can move between chords quicker because the shape of your hand doesn't change. You can slide and bend these power chords easier because you're only dealing with 3 strings instead of 5 or 6. I like power chords when I am using distortion and moving quickly between chords. Sometimes a "full" chord sounds too muddy when other effects are added. The power chord gives you what you need and that's it. If you would like a few variations on this power chord, click below:

Here is a good site with Power Chords listed:


Back Home


Back to "Power Chords"

Guitar Lessons / Guitar Links / Eric's MP3's / Eric's GuitArt /
Sign Guestbook / View Guestbook / E-Mail Eric
1 1