Tap a diagram to hear root, fifth and octave. Strings run 6 to 1 from left to right. × means mute; an open circle means fret 0. Side numbers identify the frets.
F♯/G♭, A♭/G♯, B♭/A♯, C♯/D♭ and E♭/D♯ name the same pitches in equal temperament.
Standard tuning: root on string 6
Standard tuning: root on string 5
Drop D: one finger across strings 6, 5 and 4
Fretting and muting
A power chord contains a root and its perfect fifth. These diagrams add the root again an octave higher. The symbol E5 means E and B; the 5 does not count strings or fingers.
In standard tuning, place your index finger on a fretted root. Your ring finger takes the next string two frets higher, and your pinky takes the octave on the following string at that same fret. You can omit the octave for a two-note shape. For an open root, leave that string unfretted.
Let the fretting hand lightly touch the unused strings. Touching stops them ringing; pressing them down creates extra notes. Strike only the intended strings, then check each muted string separately. Compare these compact shapes with the fuller voicings in the guitar chord chart.
Moving a power chord
The lowest sounding note names the chord. Slide a fretted shape one fret higher and every note rises a half step. A5 at fret 5 on string 6 becomes B♭5 at fret 6. Moving the root onto string 5 keeps the same spacing across the next two strings.
Rock, punk, metal, grunge and pop-punk rhythm parts often combine these shapes with rests, accents and repeated downstrokes. A small chord vocabulary can support many riffs; the rhythm makes them distinct.
Palm muting and distortion
Rest the edge of your picking hand near the bridge saddles while picking. Moving slightly toward the neck shortens and darkens the note; too much pressure or distance chokes it. Alternate a muted stroke with an unmuted one to hear the difference.
Distortion adds overtones and interaction between notes. Root-and-fifth voicings usually stay clearer than dense chords under heavy gain. With no third, a power chord also leaves major or minor color to the melody and other instruments. This is useful rhythm work for rock and metal guitar.
Drop D power chords
Lower only string 6 from E2 to D2, using the tuner to check it. The bottom strings now read D A D. At any fretted position, one finger across those three strings supplies root, fifth and octave. The open D5 needs no fretting finger.
A standard-tuning shape rooted on string 6 will no longer give the same chord. Shapes rooted on string 5 still work. The alternate tunings guide gives reference sounds for drop D and other tunings.
Questions
Can you play power chords on an acoustic guitar?
Yes. Use the same standard-tuning fret patterns and pick lightly enough to hear all the intended notes. An acoustic guitar exposes string noise clearly, which helps you check the muting.
Are power chords barre chords?
A full barre chord usually includes a third and sounds across more strings. A power chord can use separate fingertips. In drop D, the short barre covers only the bottom three strings.
Why does my power chord sound out of tune?
Check the open-string tuning first, then ease your fretting pressure. Squeezing hard or pulling a string sideways can sharpen a note. If a correctly tuned guitar stays sharp higher up the neck, its intonation may need adjustment.
Can I use power chords instead of major and minor chords?
They can simplify a rhythm part, but removing the thirds changes the harmony. They will not preserve the character of a diminished chord or a chord whose seventh matters to the song.
