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"Guitar Power Chords -- Introducing Vital Basics To Playing Rhythm Guitar"

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Are you fluent in guitar power chords? By learning how to play power chords well, you gain access to thousands of riffs and strength to play guitar longer and faster. Playing rhythm guitar is not complete without them! Plus, learn them all now using this free guitar power chord chart!

What are guitar power chords?

Why are power chords so special? Well...

They provide the foundation for countless rock songs. They are easy to play and fun to use! Learning how to play power chords now will literally unlock thousands of songs for you in the future, because the great thing about these special chords is that...

...one chord fits all!

Simply move the shape around on the fretboard and you've got a recipe for a fun, easy rock song that you can use in tons of different ways!

Playing rhythm guitar with power chords

Like we talked about earlier, guitar power chords are featured in countless different rock, metal, and punk songs. You can use power chords to play:

• Rock guitar riffs
• Metal guitar riffs
• Heavy riffs using palm muting

Are you a Guitar Guru?

Learning how to play a power chord makes playing rhythm guitar a breeze! Guitar power chords are moveable. This means you can simply shift them up and down the guitar neck without changing your fingers!

What does this mean for you? No more awkward open chord changes! ;)

But there is a downside: making a power chord requires a little bit of a stretch! Learning how to do this correctly takes some practice. But once you get it, it will be the easiest, most natural thing you ever do on the guitar next to playing "Smoke on the Water"!

How to play power chords

Look at the following shape. Can you make it?

Any luck? Did you notice that it only takes two fingers, two frets apart? Also, every other string is x'ed out, so you only strum those two strings that you are pressing on.

OK. Now comes the fun part...

Move the shape over one fret, like this:

Now you have a brand new power chord! So you see, we can move our simple shape up and down the frets...

But wait, there's more!

You can also move your power chord shape down one string, to the fifth string!

For example, try this shape:

Now you have a whole new set of power chord shapes you can make! Just in case you were wondering, here is everything we just learned in tablature form:

Your Free guitar power chord chart

If you want to learn and memorize every power chord, use this free power chord chart! It's easy, just memorize the name of the note that your index finger presses, then add a '5' to it. All power chords are named this way!

For example, some common power chord names are: A5, E5, and D5.

J Danger says:

"Don't worry about why it's a '5' at this point. Just memorize the chords for now. The reason is based in music theory and may not be what you think. For now, learning the shapes is your best bet for success!"

Here are the complete power chords on the sixth string:

Click tablature to enlarge:

And here are the complete power chord shapes on the fifth string:

Click tablature to enlarge:

Your first complete guitar riff using power chords

Ready for a real song using guitar power chords? Try this classic guitar riff. You will recognize the tune, I'm sure!

a la Ironman

Click tablature to enlarge:

What's next?

Want to learn your own songs by ear? Try slowing them down with RiffMaster Pro and training your ear to learn any song without needing tabs!

Want to learn how to play any song, at any speed, just by listening to it?

For more crucial rhythm guitar tips and tricks, go to: Rhythm Guitar Tips and Tricks: Basic Guitar Lessons for Playing Rhythm Guitar!

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