Chords
Power chord
A power chord is a two-note chord made of a root and its perfect fifth (often with the root doubled an octave up), written with a 5: E5 = E B.
What is a power chord?
A power chord contains only the root and its perfect fifth, 7 semitones higher, usually with the root repeated an octave up. It is written with a "5": E5 = E B, A5 = A E, G5 = G D, C5 = C G.
With no third, it is neither major nor minor. That is its superpower: the same G5 works in a song in G major or in E minor. So it is not a triad, but a chord stripped down to its skeleton.
How do you play a power chord on guitar?
One movable shape, with two or three fingers (x = string not played, from low E to high E):
| Power chord | Shape | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E5 (open) | 022xxx | E B E |
| A5 (open) | x022xx | A E A |
| F5 | 133xxx | F C F |
| G5 | 355xxx | G D G |
| C5 | x355xx | C G C |
| D5 | x577xx | D A D |
Root on the 6th or 5th string under your index finger, ring and little fingers two frets higher on the next two strings. It is exactly the bottom half of an E-shape or A-shape barre chord, minus the high strings.
Why do power chords sound good with distortion?
Distortion creates extra tones (intermodulation products), including difference tones. The equal-tempered perfect fifth is almost pure (2 cents away from the 3:2 ratio), so its difference tone lands an octave below the root and reinforces the bass. The tempered major third is about 14 cents wider than a pure 5:4 third, so the added tones don't line up: they beat against each other and the sound turns muddy.
That is why high-gain rock and metal are built on power chords, while on a clean tone a full chord sounds richer.
Exercise: a rock riff and the drop D trick
Play steady eighth notes with the side of your picking hand resting on the strings near the bridge (palm muting):
- E5
022xxxfor two beats - G5
355xxxfor one beat - A5
577xxxfor one beat
In drop D tuning (6th string lowered to D), the fifth sits at the same fret on the 6th and 5th strings, so one flat finger does the job: D5 = 000xxx, F5 = 333xxx, G5 = 555xxx. The alternate tunings tool shows these shapes in drop D and other tunings.
Common mistakes with power chords
- Letting other strings ring: rest your index finger lightly across the higher strings and let its tip touch the string below to keep them silent.
- Pressing too hard: the note goes sharp and the power chord sounds out of tune, especially with distortion.
- Calling it major: G5 is not G. If the music needs a third, the singer or a second guitar supplies it.
Key takeaways
- Power chord = root + fifth (+ octave), written "5".
- Neither major nor minor, so it fits both.
- Movable shape: fret n, n+2, n+2 on strings 6-5-4 or 5-4-3.
- In drop D, one flat finger across the three lowest strings is enough.
Frequently asked questions
Is a power chord major or minor?
Neither, because it has no third. The context (melody, bass line, other instruments) gives it its colour. G5 can back a passage in G major just as well as one in G minor.
Why is it written E5 and not E?
The "5" tells you the chord contains only the root and the fifth. "E" on its own means E major, which includes the third, G♯. Playing E5 instead of E deliberately leaves that third out.
Can you play a power chord with the fifth on the bottom?
Yes: that is the inverted power chord, with the fifth below the root (you hear a perfect fourth). For example x002xx (A D A) is a D5 with A in the bass. It sounds darker and heavier, and it is common in metal.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
Take it from theory to the fretboard
Open the workshop tools and see this idea across the whole neck. Free account, no card needed.