• Registered: 26-09-10
  • Posts: 36
  • User Karma: 1

Topic: Struggling with Power Chords

Hi all

Ive been learning a couple of months and have 90% conquered barre chords.

Ive tried power chords but struggling. Ive been told by a friends only to strum the first 3 strings E, A and D, which is quite difficult for me as im not producing a clear note.  Plus, for example when i learnt the barre chords, i leanr the letter of the note, with thanks to some of the guys on here as well.

But i dont know the power chord notes, which note on which fret etc And im not sure if my finger positioning is correct. For example id have my index figer on the E string, then 2 frets down id have my pinky on the A string and ring finger on D string. Is this correct or is there an easier way to play it?

Cheers

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them...

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2 Reply by Olly

  • Olly
  • Olly
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  • From: UK
  • Registered: 24-11-07
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Re: Struggling with Power Chords

Power chords should be the easiest chords to play.

It is far easier to use only your 1st and 3rd finger (index finger and ring finger) to play the notes. Your 3rd finger "barres" over the A and D string.

You do only strum these three strings. if you rest either your 1st or 3rd finger on the remaining three strings it will mute them. This allows you to actually strum all 6 strings but only the three you want will ring out - try it, it takes a bit of getting used to but muting is a skill you will use over and over in your guitar playing career!

As for chord names, they are named in the same way as I mentioned before. You can play a powerchord in other places that just on the 4th string - exactly the same fingering but starting on the 5th string is widely used.

So use the diagram that Polyal posted, if you are on the 6th string then it starts at E and if you on the 5th string it starts at A,

If you wanted a B powerchord you can either play at 7th fret on the 6th string or 2nd fret on the 5th string!

Hope this makes sense, feel free to ask anything further.

Olly's Website

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  • Registered: 26-09-10
  • Posts: 36
  • User Karma: 1

Re: Struggling with Power Chords

Yeah that makes sense thanks mate, currently at work but i will refer back to this post later on and practice default/smile

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them...

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  • From: Liverpool, UK
  • Registered: 30-10-08
  • Posts: 469
  • User Karma: 25

Re: Struggling with Power Chords

I was just a kid when I learned power chords and my hands were pretty small. I couldn't physically stretch to use three fingers to play power chords so my teacher taught me to play using just the index finger and pinky. The index plays the base note and the pinky holds the next two strings two frets up. Give it a try and see if this suits you better (remember, it's all about what is best for you, not how it "should" be done)

As a point of interest, I still play power chords the same way today. Despite being marginally bigger!

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