Power Chord / Fifth Chord

 Introduction

Power chord is a chord that use only 2 notes  instead of triad.Power chord also known as rock chord most commonly use by guitarist to produce rhythm.Power chord is suitable use in electric guitar that have Distortion effect.You also can play with acoustic guitar but the sound cannot go to long after you play the chord.Power chord is play at sixth string as root,because sixt string is bass string produce low pitch rhythm  chord.

Power also known as fifth chord.Written as 5,example A5,B5.The term fifth represent 5^th interval from chord’s scale.To create a power chord,you should use formua below .(A5 as example ) :

Formula 5^th chord : 1-5 or 1-5-1

Am : A,B,C,D,E,F,G

A : A,B,C#,D,E,F#,G#

Formula 1-5 or 1-5-1 can be use to create power chord.1 as a root while 5 as 5^th interval in chord’s scale.1-5-1 has two root with different octave(low & higher octave root).You can choose one of them .Power chord is natural,neither major nor minor because it not has 3^rd interval that determine the chord is major or minor type,discuss on previous lesson.So,to create power chord,u can use either minor or Major scale as reference scale.

First, pick  1 & 5 note from chord’ scale.In scale Am/A above, 1 is A,5 is E.Play at lower sixth string as root.On guitar,pattern of power chord are show below :

 

Type 1

Type 2

Diagram above show pattern of power chord,red-black dot indicate root of chord while black  is 5^th interval in type one,in type 2,same as type one,but has additional root(second black dot) different pitch with 1^st root.

Examples,to create A5 chord,if red-black dot in six string is A note as root,one black dot in fifth string is 5^th note.while other one black dot in fourth string is also root(more higher pitch root). 

Power chord is movable chord,you can move the chord from one root with another with your hand without modifiy the chord pattern show on diagram above.

Power Chord Progression

Actually,power chord progression same as Minor chord progression that discuss on previous lesson.The different is,basic minor chord use either open position chord or barre chord while power chord use it own pattern.Barre chord is one of chord almost the same as power chord but different in interval.Barre chord will discuss in next chapter.

I’m suggest u to play power chord progression according to minor chord progression type such as :

I-IV-VII-III-VI-V ascending   

I-VII-VI-V descending
I-VI-III-V

The interval above show some chord progression pattern,commonly use.You also can create your own progression that you like,choose best progression without damaging the beuty of song,avoid discord chord progression sound.