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Lesson 1 of 3

Two-note power chords

A power chord is just two notes: a root and the fifth above it. It's neither major nor minor, which is why it fits almost any rock song and sounds huge with distortion.

Start with the open versions. E5 is the open low E plus the A string at the 2nd fret. A5 is the open A plus the D string at the 2nd fret. Use your index finger and pick only those two strings.

Then the movable shape: index finger on the low E string, ring finger two frets higher on the A string. At the 3rd fret it's G5; slide to the 5th fret and it's A5.

Keep the rest of the strings quiet. Let the index finger lie lightly across the higher strings and rest your picking palm on the low E when you're on the A string.

Use downstrokes. The chord should sound thick, punchy and even. The most common mistake is hitting a third string, which makes it sound messy. Small, aimed strums fix it.

Exercises

E5 and A5 on open strings

60 → 120 bpm
  1. Bar 1
    1. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    2. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    3. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    4. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    5. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    6. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    7. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    8. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
  2. Bar 2
    1. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    2. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    3. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    4. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    5. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    6. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    7. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    8. A string, open + D string, fret 2

Clean 3 times in a row? Raise the tempo by 5 bpm.

G5 and A5 on the low E

60 → 110 bpm
  1. Bar 1
    1. low E string, fret 3 + A string, fret 5
    2. low E string, fret 3 + A string, fret 5
    3. low E string, fret 3 + A string, fret 5
    4. low E string, fret 3 + A string, fret 5
  2. Bar 2
    1. low E string, fret 5 + A string, fret 7
    2. low E string, fret 5 + A string, fret 7
    3. low E string, fret 5 + A string, fret 7
    4. low E string, fret 5 + A string, fret 7

Clean 3 times in a row? Raise the tempo by 5 bpm.

Open E5, A5 and D5

60 → 120 bpm
  1. Bar 1
    1. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    2. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    3. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    4. low E string, open + A string, fret 2
    5. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    6. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    7. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    8. A string, open + D string, fret 2
  2. Bar 2
    1. D string, open + G string, fret 2
    2. D string, open + G string, fret 2
    3. D string, open + G string, fret 2
    4. D string, open + G string, fret 2
    5. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    6. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    7. A string, open + D string, fret 2
    8. A string, open + D string, fret 2

Clean 3 times in a row? Raise the tempo by 5 bpm.

Checkpoint

Move on when you can do all of these.

  • Only two strings sound in every chord at 120 bpm
  • Switch G5 to A5 without a gap at 110 bpm
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