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Guitar Power Chords

Are you already playing guitar power chords?Chances are that you have already learned power chords from your friends or from free tabs on the internet. Although Power Chords are probably the easiest,
I waited to put them in because there is a danger of learning about them too early.
You might think that you are GUITAR GOD
and forget to learn how to play guitar! (just kidding--sort of)

Power chords are extremely valuable in certain applications.Let me Give you just a bit of theory behind them.

The Major and Minor Triads

The Major Triad is composed of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes in the appropriate major scale. For example,

The C Major Triad is C E G

The Minor Triad is C Eb G

What Is a Power Chord?

The Power Chord effectively eliminates the 3rd of the chord--resulting in a chord which is neither major not minor.

Learn Guitar Power Chords!

How Do I Use Power Chords?

Power chords are extremely useful to obtain a good chunky sound in rock music. The advantage of power chords is that since the 3rd of the scale which determines major or minor is eliminated. Therefore ANY chord goes with ANY chord.

How Do I Solo Over Power Chords?

You will need to know both of two things about music theory:

1. The theory of Chord Construction

2. The Theory of Chord Progression

The thing is, you STILL need to know what key the solo section is in. There are NO shortcuts.

What Scales Do I Use to Solo Over Power Chords?

The knowledge that you get from studying the music theory lessons above will be essential to your knowledge of what scale to use.

Where Can I Find More Resources?

If You need help with guitar scales here are some resources:

Pentatonic Guitar Scales

Guitar Major Scales

Minor Guitar Scales

Above all--EXPERIMENT! You will find strange combinations that will work. If it sound good to you, have another person listen. If it sounds GREAT to you and another (objective) person--Go ahead and USE IT!

ANYWAY---here they are.
You can use your first and 3rd fingers
(barre across the two notes on the same fret) or your 1st 3rd and 4th fingers.
They are named by whatever note your 1st finger is on.

Power chord 6th string

OK Just for fun--what is the name of this chord?
Remember that it is named after the note being played by your FIRST finger--SO--
if E is the open string and there is a half-step between E and F--
This must be an F# chord! Hey I KNEW you knew that.

Power chord 5th string