6. Power Chords

In this chapter, we're going to explore power chords, a fundamental and powerful element in rock music and beyond. Power chords are simple to play, sound great, and give your guitar playing a solid, driving force.

The E String

Let's start by revisiting our familiar E string, with the notes of the C Major Scale labeled for reference:

The E String Power Chord Shape

A power chord is typically a two or three note chord consisting of the root note and the fifth. When played on the E string, you'll use this shape:

• Root Note: Played on the E string (6th string) with your index finger.
• Fifth: Played on the A string (5th string) with your ring finger, two frets higher than the root note.

Visually, it looks like this (The root is outlined in black):

E String - C Power Chord

To play a C power chord, find the root note C on the E string (8th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 8th fret of the E string and your ring finger across the 10th frets of the A and D strings.

E String - D Power Chord

To play a D power chord, find the root note D on the E string (10th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the low E string and your ring finger on the 12th frets of the A and D strings.

E String - E Power Chord

To play an E power chord, find the root note E on the E string (open string).

• Play the open E string. Place your ring finger on the 2nd frets of the A and D strings.

E String - E Power Chord (Octave Higher)

Remember, the notes repeat an octave higher when you go 12 frets to the right. So, the E note on the 12th fret of the E string is an octave higher than the open E string.

• Place your index finger on the 12th fret of the low E string and your ring finger on the 14th frets of the A and D strings.

E String - F Power Chord

To play an F power chord, find the root note F on the E string (1st fret).

• Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the low E string and your ring finger on the 3rd frets of the A and D strings.

E String - G Power Chord

To play a G power chord, find the root note G on the E string (3rd fret).

• Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string and your ring finger on the 5th frets of the A and D strings.

E String - A Power Chord

To play an A power chord, find the root note A on the E string (5th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the low E string and your ring finger on the 7th frets of the A and D strings.

Play the following C major power chord progressions on the E string:

• I-vi-IV-V (C5-F5-G5-C5)
• ii-V-I (D5-G5-C5)
• I-iii-VII-V (C5-E5-B5-G5)

Power Chords on the A String

Now that you're familiar with power chords rooted on the E string, let's expand your power chord vocabulary by learning how to play them with the root note on the A string. This will give you even more versatility and options for your rhythm playing.

The A String

Let's look at the A string, with its notes labeled:

The A String Power Chord Shape

The shape for power chords rooted on the A string is very similar to the E string shape, just shifted down one string set.

• Root Note: Played on the A string (5th string) with your index finger.
• Fifth: Played on the D string (4th string) with your ring finger, two frets higher than the root note.

Visually, it looks like this:

A String - C Power Chord

To play a C power chord, find the root note C on the A string (3rd fret).

• Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the A string and your ring finger across the 5th frets of the D and G strings.

A String - D Power Chord

To play a D power chord, find the root note D on the A string (5th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the A string and your ring finger across the 7th frets of the D and G strings.

A String - E Power Chord

To play an E power chord, find the root note E on the A string (7th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 7th fret of the A string and your ring finger across the 9th frets of the D and G strings.

A String - F Power Chord

To play an F power chord, find the root note F on the A string (8th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 8th fret of the A string and your ring finger across the 10th frets of the D and G strings.

A String - G Power Chord

To play a G power chord, find the root note G on the A string (10th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the A string and your ring finger across the 12th frets of the D and G strings.

A String - A Power Chord

To play an A power chord, you can use the open A string as your root, or the A note on the 12th fret.

• Play the open A string and place your ring finger across the 2nd frets of the D and G strings.

A String - A Power Chord (Octave Higher)

Just like the E string, the notes on the A string repeat an octave higher after 12 frets.

• Place your index finger on the 12th fret of the A string and your ring finger across the 14th frets of the D and G strings.

Play the following C major power chord progressions on the A string:

• I-vi-IV-V (C5-F5-G5-C5)
• ii-V-I (D5-G5-C5)
• I-iii-VII-V (C5-E5-B5-G5)

Power Chords on the D String

You're doing great! We've covered power chords rooted on the E and A strings. Now, let's move on to the D string, adding even more options to your power chord arsenal. The principles remain the same, just shifted to a new set of strings.

The D String

Here's the D string, with its notes labeled:

The D String Power Chord Shape

For power chords rooted on the D string, your shape will involve the D and G strings:

• Root Note: Played on the D string (4th string) with your index finger.
• Fifth: Played on the G string (3rd string) with your ring finger, two frets higher than the root note.

Visually, it looks like this:

D String - C Power Chord

To play a C power chord, find the root note C on the D string (10th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the D string (C).
• Place your ring finger on the 12th fret of the G string (G, which is the fifth of C).

D String - D Power Chord

To play a D power chord, you can use the open D string as your root.

• Open D Power Chord:
  • Play the open D string.
  • Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string (A, which is the fifth of D).

D String - D Power Chord (Octave Higher)

The D note on the 12th fret of the D string is an octave higher than the open D string.

• Place your index finger on the 12th fret of the D string (D).
• Place your ring finger on the 14th fret of the G string (A, which is the fifth of D).

D String - E Power Chord

To play an E power chord, find the root note E on the D string (2nd fret).

• Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the D string (E).
• Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the G string (B, which is the fifth of E).

D String - F Power Chord

To play an F power chord, find the root note F on the D string (3rd fret).

• Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the D string (F).
• Place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the G string (C, which is the fifth of F).

D String - G Power Chord

To play a G power chord, find the root note G on the D string (5th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the D string (G).
• Place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the G string (D, which is the fifth of G).

D String - A Power Chord

To play an A power chord, find the root note A on the D string (7th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 7th fret of the D string (A).
• Place your ring finger on the 9th fret of the G string (E, which is the fifth of A).

Play the following C major power chord progressions on the D string:

• I-vi-IV-V (C5-F5-G5-C5)
• ii-V-I (D5-G5-C5)
• I-iii-VII-V (C5-E5-B5-G5)

Power Chords on the G String

You're almost there! We've covered power chords rooted on the E, A, and D strings. Now, let's complete our journey across the lower strings by learning how to play power chords with the root note on the G string. This will round out your understanding of these versatile chords.

The G String

Here's the G string, with its notes labeled:

The G String Power Chord Shape

For power chords rooted on the G string, your shape will involve the G and B strings. This is where it gets a little different due to the tuning of the B string.

• Root Note: Played on the G string (3rd string) with your index finger.
• Fifth: Played on the B string (2nd string) with your ring finger, three frets higher than the root note. (Remember, the B string is tuned a major third from the G string, unlike the perfect fourth interval between the other adjacent strings).

Visually, it looks like this:

G String - C Power Chord

To play a C power chord, find the root note C on the G string (5th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the G string and your ring finger across the 8th frets of the B and high E strings.

G String - D Power Chord

To play a D power chord, find the root note D on the G string (7th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 7th fret of the G string and your ring finger across the 10th frets of the B and high E strings.

G String - E Power Chord

To play an E power chord, find the root note E on the G string (9th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 9th fret of the G string and your ring finger across the 12th frets of the B and high E strings.

G String - F Power Chord

To play an F power chord, find the root note F on the G string (10th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the G string and your ring finger across the 13th frets of the B and high E strings.

G String - G Power Chord

To play a G power chord, you can use the open G string as your root.

• Play the open G string and place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings.

G String - A Power Chord

To play an A power chord, find the root note A on the G string (2nd fret).

• Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string and your ring finger across the 5th frets of the B and high E strings.

Play the following C major power chord progressions on the G string:

• I-vi-IV-V (C5-F5-G5-C5)
• ii-V-I (D5-G5-C5)
• I-iii-VII-V (C5-E5-B5-G5)

Power Chords on the B String

You're doing fantastic! We've covered power chords on the E, A, D, and G strings. Now, let's learn how to play power chords with the root note on the B string. This will give you a full understanding of how to play power chords across the lower five strings of your guitar.

The B String

Here's the B string, with its notes labeled:

The B String Power Chord Shape

For power chords rooted on the B string, your shape will involve the B and high e strings. Good news: the interval between the B string and the high e string is a perfect fourth, just like the E-A, A-D, and D-G strings! So, the shape reverts to the familiar "two frets higher" pattern for the fifth.

• Root Note: Played on the B string (2nd string) with your index finger.
• Fifth: Played on the high e string (1st string) with your ring finger, two frets higher than the root note.

Visually, it looks like this:

B String - C Power Chord

To play a C power chord, find the root note C on the B string (1st fret).

• Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string (C).
• Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the high e string (G, which is the fifth of C).

B String - D Power Chord

To play a D power chord, find the root note D on the B string (3rd fret).

• Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (D).
• Place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the high e string (A, which is the fifth of D).

B String - E Power Chord

To play an E power chord, find the root note E on the B string (5th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the B string (E).
• Place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the high e string (B, which is the fifth of E).

B String - F Power Chord

To play an F power chord, find the root note F on the B string (6th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 6th fret of the B string (F).
• Place your ring finger on the 8th fret of the high e string (C, which is the fifth of F).

B String - G Power Chord

To play a G power chord, find the root note G on the B string (8th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 8th fret of the B string (G).
• Place your ring finger on the 10th fret of the high e string (D, which is the fifth of G).

B String - A Power Chord

To play an A power chord, find the root note A on the B string (10th fret).

• Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the B string (A).
• Place your ring finger on the 12th fret of the high e string (E, which is the fifth of A).

Play the following C major power chord progressions on the B string:

• I-vi-IV-V (C5-F5-G5-C5)
• ii-V-I (D5-G5-C5)
• I-iii-VII-V (C5-E5-B5-G5)

Summary

You've now mastered the five essential power chord shapes rooted on the E, A, D, G, and B strings—giving you endless riff possibilities! These are the building blocks for rock, punk, metal, and more.

What's Next?

In the next chapter, you'll build on your C Pentatonic Scale skills, focusing on the two core shapes to create fluid solos over chord progressions like I-IV-V and ii-V-I. You'll practice crafting 4-bar solos seamlessly combining both shapes for full fretboard coverage. Expect to jam along with backing tracks to refine your melodic phrasing.