Power chords are the ultimate shortcut for guitar players who want to sound good fast. With just two fingers and one moveable shape, you can play rhythm guitar to hundreds of rock, punk, and metal songs.
They’re not technically “chords” in the traditional sense – real chords need three notes, and power chords only have two. But what they lack in complexity they make up for in versatility. The same shape works everywhere on the neck, which means once you’ve learned it, you can play in any key.
If you’re just getting started with guitar chords, power chords are a great place to begin.
Beginner’s Guide to Power Chords
In this lesson, I’ll show you everything you need to know to start playing power chords today:
The Basic Power Chord Shape
Here’s what you need to know:
- Root note: Index finger on the low E string (or A string)
- Fifth: Ring finger two frets higher on the next string
That’s it. Two fingers, two frets apart, on adjacent strings. Strum just those two strings and you’ve got a power chord.
For example, to play an A5 power chord: put your index finger on the 5th fret of the low E string (that’s the A note), and your ring finger on the 7th fret of the A string. That second note is an E – the fifth of A.
Why Power Chords Work
Power chords contain just the root and the fifth – no third. That missing third is actually what makes them so useful. Major chords have a major third (sounds happy), minor chords have a minor third (sounds sad). Power chords have neither, so they’re tonally neutral.
This means you can use them over major OR minor progressions without clashing. It’s why they work so well with distortion – they stay clean and punchy instead of getting muddy.
Moving Power Chords Around
The magic of power chords is mobility. That exact same shape you used for A5? Slide it up two frets and you’ve got B5. Move it down to the first fret and you’ve got F5.
Works on the A string too. Index on the 3rd fret of the A string, ring finger on the 5th fret of the D string – that’s C5.
Practice sliding between positions without looking at your fingers. Once this becomes second nature, you can play along with almost any rock song.
Common Power Chord Progressions
I-IV-V in A:
A5 (5th fret, low E) → D5 (5th fret, A string) → E5 (7th fret, A string)
Classic punk progression:
G5 (3rd fret, low E) → C5 (3rd fret, A string) → D5 (5th fret, A string)
Start slow. Focus on clean transitions. Make sure you’re only hitting the strings you mean to hit.
Tips for Better Power Chords
Mute the unused strings. Rest your palm lightly on the bridge and let your fretting fingers touch the strings you’re not playing. This keeps your power chords tight instead of messy.
Don’t death-grip the neck. You don’t need much pressure to get a clean sound. Squeezing too hard will slow you down and tire you out.
Practice clean before adding distortion. Distortion hides mistakes. Get your technique solid first, then crank the gain.
Power Chord Lessons
Ready to go deeper? Check out these lessons:
- Power Chord Inversions – Add a low bass note for a bigger, fuller sound
- Inverted Fourths – The secret behind Smoke on the Water and other classic riffs
- Guitar Thirds – Two-note harmonies for melodic intros and riffs