27.1 · 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 and listen for the vote that E5 refuses to cast.
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
1 / 3Which notes make a power chord?