29.1 · Guitar Chords

Power chords

A power chord is just a root and its fifth: no third. The third is the note that decides bright or dark, so a power chord decides nothing. That neutrality, plus needing only two fingers, makes it the first chord of rock.

Major, minor, neither

Three chords on the same E root. E major holds G♯, E minor holds G, E5 holds neither. Tap each: bright, dark, then neither.

Two fingers, any root

Mute the high strings and the grip slides anywhere. The root sits under your first finger on the low E string: fret 3 is G, so that grip is G5. The landmarks name every chord.

Quiz

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Which notes make a power chord?

Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson. A perfect run sticks: a later miss never undoes it.The open shapes →