Power chords

[Breaking the law]

Re: Power chords

Depends on the situation and the song, really..
Generally I use
|-9-| -> pinky (or ring ,a sort of barre)
|-9-| -> ring
|-7-| -> index

and
|-9-| -> ring
|-7-| -> index

This depends on the following chord in the song, really. I tend to figure out fingerings whilst learning a song, so in 2 different songs I might finger the same chord differently.

 

[Sune]

Re: Power chords

Thanks for all your answers.. Now I just want to know some things.. Which scale etc. does the power chords come from? what is the theory behind power chords?

I've read something about power chords and the pentatonic minor scale..Can someone show me how the pentatonic minor scale is, and explain some things about it, if there's anything to explain? Like when I play "Iron Man", it's a mix of power chords and single notes, is that all from the pentatonic scale?

 

[Davey]

Re: Power chords

the power chord is the lazy mans barre chord.. comes from hell from what i know..

you cant play fast and keep articulation and the chug if you're only playing barre chords

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Power chords

Get a book on basic music theory or search the net. A little theory knowledge goes a long way.

The reason a "power chord" sounds so good is that it contains to the two most consonant intervals, the octave and the perfect 5th. Rock/pop music is composed mostly of major, minor, dominate 7, major 7 and minor 7 chords. All these chords (and the majority of other chords) contain the interval of a perfect 5th. A perfect 5th is 7 half steps which translates into seven guitar frets. So C,G,C would be a C power chord...E,B,E would be an E power chord. So when the guitar player chugs out root/5th and root/5th/octave power chords, this leaves lots of room for other instruments to add the other color tones that make up the rest of the song.

 

[Watroba]

Re: Power chords

The reason a "power chord" sounds so good is that it contains to the two most consonant intervals, the octave and the perfect 5th. Rock/pop music is composed mostly of major, minor, dominate 7, major 7 and minor 7 chords. All these chords (and the majority of other chords) contain the interval of a perfect 5th. A perfect 5th is 7 half steps which translates into seven guitar frets. So C,G,C would be a C power chord...E,B,E would be an E power chord. So when the guitar player chugs out root/5th and root/5th/octave power chords, this leaves lots of room for other instruments to add the other color tones that make up the rest of the song.

Exactly.

Because power chords leave out the third, it can be interpreted as a major or minor chord, leaving plenty of room for creativity. They don't, however, have a whole lot a feeling when compared to most of the other more complex chords. But, you can add single notes to them to create chords with more feeling. For instance, instead of playing:

D |- -|
A |-7-|
E |-5-|

Add the ninth to the already established root and fifth to create this:

D |-9-|
A |-7-|
E |-5-|

It isn't completely necessary that you play power chords with your first and ring finger, but I'd practice it. You could run into trouble in the future if you can't stretch across two frets.

--Watroba

 

[flank]

Re: Power chords

i use my thumb and ring

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Power chords

if the whole song is power chords then I play index and middle, just because i can move it around very quickly and accurately compared to my other fingers.

When doing 7th chords with a free pinky, it's fun to improvise tones onto the scale that you're on while playing the chord-it makes the rhythm playing alot more dynamic eventhough you're only playing one chord.

I just realized that I haven't played a song with power chords or even distorted chords in a while.

That's what Fender cleans will do to you! Just let those juicy, reverberated barred 7th chords ring!

 

[Hoss]

Re: Power chords

i use my thumb and ring

:smack: wha?

i started out using index and pinky, but then switched to index and ring...for the reasons mentioned...it still absolutely kills my entire fretting hand and arm to do this for any period of time though...i don't know what the deal is!!!

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Power chords

It depends. My default is index and pinky, and I originally learned this way to strengthen and use my pinky which many beginning players don't do.

That being said I do what the song dictates. For example, if your taking a basic rock tune with an open A power chord power chord I'd use my index to play the open A on the 4th and 5th strings, and then my middle and pinky to play the low G on the 5th and sixth strings . Makes the transition super smooth and you don't even have to look or think about it. Kind of like this:

2 (use my index)
0 (open no finger)

5 (use my pinky)
3 (use my middle)

Its also good to do this when playing fast rythym parts in metal/speed metal and beyond. Meaning based on the chords/notes your playing, transition from using index/ring to middle/pinky, without moving your hand. (Kerry King does an article in Guitar World where he shows a lot of that stuff, regardless of what you think about Slayer or Kings lead playing, or guitar world!, its a pretty good read for rythym playing)

 

[FELIX57]

Re: Power chords

i think when it comes to playing live whatever works better hammet uses his pinky cause he has to stretch sometimes 7 frets practicing however id do both and whatever feels more uncomfortable and awkward try and do more i dl a video of adrian from iron maiden giving a lesson and it was extremely helpful

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Power chords

It all depends on what you plan on doing with the other fingers during or immediately after the chord. Maybe a riff you want to work requires the middle and ring fingers to be free to do something on the 8th fret of higher strings.

Otherwise I'm just your standard index-ring-pinky for the 1-5-8 power chord...

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Power chords

No offense, but I just think that using one's pinky for power chords is just understretching. For beginners I guess it's fine but a bad habit nonetheless.