Power chords, a synthetic style of chord that does not actually
fill the definition of a chord, which is a combination of
three or more different notes sounded simultaneously. Power
chords are usually used in hard rock and heavy metal styles
of music that utilize distortion to accommodate for the missing
texture of a full chord. The standard power chord uses only
the root and the 5th. The following diagrams show some of
the common and not so common patterns that can be used.
All of the patterns shown below can be used all down the
fretboard. The last two rows are unique power chord forms
that if used sparingly can add a touch of variety to some
good grunge.
Here's some trivia for you, I don't know about you, but I
always accredited Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath with being
the "Godfather's" of the heavy metal power chord, I stand
corrected. In 1958 Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr. created a
new sound by inventing fuzz-tone, adding feedback, distortion
and noise. He also pioneered the power chord. He had an instrumental
that became a hit, the song was called "Rumble" by Link Wray
and His Ray Men.
Two String Power Chords
Three and Four String Power Chords
Other Possible Power Chords
Root-3rd and Root-b3rd Power Chords
The diagrams color code is: root = red, 5th = green, and
3rd = blue. Three of the unique style power chords shown above
have the 3rd or 5th flatted, this is indicated with a b in the
diagram.
