Power Chord Names

The first thing you should know is that power chords are not 'major' or 'minor.' Power chords work over both major and minor chord changes. When you're talking about power chords, you only have to know the root note of the chord, like G, A, D, F#, etc.

The Power Chord Shape

This lesson will look at 2-note power chords. The power chord shape is a simple 'L-shape' across the 6th and 5th strings together, or across the 5th and 4th strings together. This 'L-shape' moves up and down the neck to adjust for key.

Here is an example of a 'G' power chord. Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th (low E) string, and place your ring or little finger on the 5th fret of the 5th (A) string.

Power Chord Here is a photograph of the left hand shape in the diagram above.
Picking - The right hand strum is a very short stroke across only the lowest two strings. Pick only the strings you are fretting. Don't strum across all of the strings.

Example 1 - Index on the 3rd fret

Play the power chord in the diagram above in steady time. Play in time with the videos first, then play in time with the Microsong practice track below.

Left Hand Video - Click on the video button to the right to see a demonstration of the left hand.
Right Hand Video - Click on the video button to the right to see a demonstration of the right hand.

The timing for pick strokes in the next five Microsongs is one stroke on the downbeat, and another stroke on the end of the 2nd beat. It's not important to understand the count. Just listen to the Microsong track for a few seconds, and imitate the rhythm pattern.

Microsong 1 - Click on the Microsong button to the right to hear the mp3 practice track.