A power chord is a two-note chord made of a root and the fifth above it. It has no third, so it sounds neither major nor minor. Chord charts write it as the root letter plus a 5, as in C5, E5, or G5.
In 1958, Link Wray released “Rumble,” a fuzz-crusted instrumental that was banned by authorities and embraced by future icons. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame calls Wray “the inventor of the power chord” and inducted him in 2023. Here’s how to play the shapes he made famous.
Guitar Power Chords Chart
The chart above maps seven power chords, from A5 to G5, in five positions each. Read every diagram with the thickest string on the left. X means mute, O means open, and numbers show which finger to use.
A number beside a diagram gives its starting fret. Every shape holds only two note names: the root and its fifth.
What Are Power Chords?
Every major or minor triad has a root, a third, and a fifth. The third decides the quality: a major third makes the chord major, and a minor third makes it minor. A power chord leaves the third out and keeps only the root and the fifth.
That missing third makes the chord neutral. As a result, a power chord fits songs in major and minor keys alike.
beenhereHow to read a power chord nameChord charts write a power chord as its root letter plus 5, such as C5, A5, or G5. The 5 stands for the fifth, the only other note in the chord.
How Do You Play a Basic Power Chord?
Start with C5, the C power chord. Place your 1st finger on the 5th string at the 3rd fret to play the root, C. Then place your 3rd finger on the 4th string at the 5th fret to add the fifth, G. Strum only those two strings and mute all the others.
Hear that? It’s a C power chord at its most basic. It has the C sound but leans neither major nor minor.
Frets between root and fifth
2in the basic shape, the fifth sits two frets above the root on the next thinner string
Add the Octave for a Three-Note Shape
Keep your fingers in that C5 position and add your 4th finger to the 3rd string at the 5th fret. That note is another C, one octave above the root. The chord still holds only C and G, but it now sounds fuller and stronger.
Move the Shape Up and Down the Neck
The power chord shape is movable, so the same fingering works on any fret. The note under your 1st finger always names the chord. On the 6th string, the 1st fret gives you F5, the 3rd fret G5, and the 5th fret A5.
Which Power Chord Shapes Should You Learn First?
The three shapes below use the fingering you just learned on a new string or fret.
A5 Power Chord
A5 has its root on the 6th string at the 5th fret. It plays A, E, and a high A.
- Place your 1st finger on the 6th string, 5th fret.
- Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string, 7th fret.
- Place your 4th finger on the 4th string, 7th fret.
- Mute strings 1, 2, and 3.
G5 Power Chord
Slide the A5 shape down two frets and you have G5. It plays G, D, and a high G.
- Place your 1st finger on the 6th string, 3rd fret.
- Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string, 5th fret.
- Place your 4th finger on the 4th string, 5th fret.
- Mute strings 1, 2, and 3.
D5 Power Chord
D5 moves the same shape over to the 5th string. The root D sits at the 5th fret, with A and a high D above it.
- Place your 1st finger on the 5th string, 5th fret.
- Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string, 7th fret.
- Place your 4th finger on the 3rd string, 7th fret.
- Mute strings 1, 2, and 6.
See how one shape produces three chords? Still, it’s not the only way to build one.
beenhereTip: think in roots and fifthsAll you need is a root and its fifth. Once you know where the notes sit on the fretboard, you can find new power chord shapes almost anywhere.
How Else Can You Play C5?
Let’s go back to C5 to see how far that idea stretches.
C5 Power Chord: Variation 1
This shape spreads C and G across the neck, so let your fingers rest on the skipped strings.
- Place your 1st finger on the 5th string, 3rd fret.
- Place your 2nd finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret.
- Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string, 5th fret.
- Mute strings 2, 4, and 6.
C5 Power Chord: Variation 2
This open-position version borrows the open G string as its fifth.
- Place your 1st finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret.
- Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string, 3rd fret.
- Place your 4th finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret.
- Play string 3 open.
- Mute strings 4 and 6.
C5 Power Chord: Variation 3
This wide shape puts the root on the 6th string and the fifth on the 4th string.
- Place your 1st finger on the 4th string, 5th fret.
- Place your 4th finger on the 6th string, 8th fret.
- Mute strings 1, 2, 3, and 5.
C5 Power Chord: Variation 4
The last variation pairs a low C with a high G and a high C.
- Place your 1st finger on the 6th string, 8th fret.
- Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string, 8th fret.
- Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string, 8th fret.
- Mute strings 3, 4, and 5.
These variations sit in different places, yet they all contain just two notes: C and G. As your fretboard knowledge grows, you’ll find shapes like these for every chord.
How Do You Play the Open E5 Power Chord?
E5 is the easiest power chord of all, because the open 6th string plays the root. You need just two fingers.
- Place your 1st finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret.
- Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret.
- Play string 6 open.
- Mute strings 1, 2, and 3.
The 5th string adds B, the fifth, and the 4th string doubles E an octave up.
How Do You Make Power Chords Sound Tight?
Two techniques give power chords their punch: palm muting and distortion.
Palm Muting
To palm mute, rest the fleshy side of your picking hand lightly on the strings at the bridge. Guitar World suggests finding the spot where the chord is muted but still clear. Then play steady eighth notes with down picks, striking only the fretted strings.
Shift your hand a millimeter or two to change how muted the chord sounds. Go easy on a floating vibrato bridge, since heavy pressure can pull the strings out of tune.
Distortion
Power chords shine through a distorted amp. Full chords often turn muddy under heavy distortion, while power chords keep their clarity. Research cited by Open Music Theory finds that distortion makes major triads somewhat dissonant and minor triads even more so.
Two notes can carry a whole song. Jimmy Page, who inducted Link Wray into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, described what “Rumble” meant to him.
As a guitar instrumental, the attitude of Rumble was totally unique in its mystery, imagination, and execution. It had a profound effect on me.
Jimmy Page, as quoted by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Which Famous Riffs Use Power Chords?
Once the shapes feel natural, learn them through real songs like these.
- “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath: the main riff is just power chords.
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana: basic two-note shapes.
- “Enter Sandman” by Metallica: it adds octaves for a heavier feel.
- “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple: the intro puts the fifth in the bass.
- “All the Small Things” by blink-182: palm-muted chords in the intro.
How Can You Practice Power Chords?
Guitar Pro stresses that good power chords take control, precision, and consistency, not just the right shapes. Work these habits into your daily practice.
- Keep your thumb behind the neck. It gives your fingers better reach and position.
- Use light pressure. Pressing too hard slows your changes and tires your hand.
- Mute with your 1st finger. Let its underside rest on the strings you don’t play.
- Name every chord you play. Slide the shape one fret at a time and say each root out loud.
- Learn songs, not just shapes. Real riffs teach you timing and smooth changes.
Every power chord comes down to a root and a fifth. With time, you’ll pick the right shape for each song.
Sources
- "Link Wray," Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Available at: https://rockhall.com/inductees/link-wray/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "The Ultimate Guide to Power Chords," Julian, The Hooktheory Blog, 2024. Available at: https://www.hooktheory.com/blog/power-chords/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Triads," Chelsey Hamm and Bryn Hughes, Open Music Theory, Version 2. Available at: https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/chapter/triads/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Pentatonic Harmony," Mark Gotham and Bryn Hughes, Open Music Theory, Version 2. Available at: https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/chapter/pentatonic-harmony/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Master Guitar Power Chords: Essential Guide for Beginners," Guitar Pro, Arobas Music. Available at: https://www.guitar-pro.com/academy/l/49322-guitar-power-chords. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "How to Palm Mute on Guitar," Jamie Humphries, Guitar World, 2025. Available at: https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/palm-muting. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
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