An easy way to learn to play the guitar is by learning power chords. When you know how to play power chords, you have a good foundation for playing a full bar chord. When you know the power chords, you can basically play any song you like. And it sounds particularly good when it comes to rock and blues songs. But what are power chords? A Power Chord in short, is a mini version of a barre chord. It is made up of two notes (sometimes three, but mostly two). You can call a chord a set of three or more notes. Whereas a power chord usually has two notes.

Some basic guitar knowledge

But first let me illustrate a few things if you are not used to holding a guitar in your hands or if you still do not know what the whole thing is called.

  • We will start with the guitar strings. Each has its own specific classification number. Starting with the thinnest at the bottom, we have the first string. And when you go up you have the second string, the third, the fourth, the fifth and finally (the thickest) the sixth string.

  • And then we have the guitar neck separated by freight and spaces. The one at the far end of the neck where the tuning keys are located is the 1st fret (or 1st space). And you go to the body of the guitar. So the closer it is to the body of the guitar, the higher the number.

  • So each finger also has its own number. So the index finger (the one we are pointing to) is finger one, the oldest is the second finger, the ring finger is finger three, and the little finger is finger four.

So there you are. With this, you will be able to know a little where to position yourself.

Now – for the power chords

Here’s an example of a power chord (I’ll show you what I think is the easiest way to do it):

  1. Using the first finger on the third fret (or space) of the sixth (thickest) string and the third finger on the fifth fret of the fifth string, play just those two strings to see how it sounds. This is called the G power string.

  2. Now Using the same finger posture, simply slide two frets higher. Thus: first finger on the fifth string of the sixth string and third finger on the seventh fret of the fifth string. You have the A power chords. If you add, for example, your fourth finger (the little pinky) at the 7th fret of the 4th string, it will start to sound like the full bar chord of A.

  3. And to finish our progression, this is what we must do. Using the same finger position instead of sliding up and down the neck of the guitar, we will change the strings. It will look like this: first finger on the third fret of the fifth string and third finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string. Play those three strings to see how it sounds. You have the power chords of C.

If we put them all together

It would look like this:

  • 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string with the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 5th string
  • 1st finger on the 5th string of the 6th string with the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string
  • 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string and 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string

Strum each time changing each strum one after the other and you may not have a complete song yet, but at least the beginning of one. This is how power chords are played. Hope this little demo has helped you.