Transcript Power Chords - Frankmarkovich.com

Power Chords
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As an example in the key of C the power chord would be C and G (G is the 5 of C – C
D E F G - count up to see). Power chords are very common in rock, blues and country,
some authors say that they are used in jazz but only modern fusion and most jazz players
would not consider it jazz to play a power chord (I am included). There is no 3rd degree
in the power chord so there is no sense of major or minor.
It is almost like much of Indian music in a drone going on. This allows the soloist to play
almost anything related to the root of the chord. Minor type scales are mainly used but
major and 7th scales can be used just as effectively.
They work very well with distortion where a full chord would not work as well as it
would sound muddy. But a power chord won’t be muddy. There are a number of
reasons why this is so but the main one is that the overtones of just the root and the 5th are
similar so that the sound is very open. In fact the 2nd overtone of the root is the 5th up 2
octaves.
Here is a basic E form of the power chord (in this case an
F power chord at the first fret) Root is on the 6th string
Fret 1 2
F F#/Gb
3 4
5 6
G G#/Ab A Bb/A#
7
B
8 9
10
C C#/Db D
11
12
D#/Eb E
Memorize this so that you can do it at any fret. Practice through the circle of 5ths.
5th root power cord (A form of Caged) Below is Bb.
Fret 1
2 3 4
5 6
7 8
Bb/A# B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F
9
10
F#/Gb G
11
12
G#/Ab A
Memorize this so that you can do it at any fret. Practice through the circle of 5ths.
Using open strings with power chords
0
0
0
For most positions you will mute the other strings but if you play
the above at the 7th fret you will see that the notes are E and B
which means that the 6th string and 1st string open are E’s and
the 2nd string open is a B so you can play all of the strings.
Listen to Rockin’ In The Free World for an example of this.
Power Chords
E
F
F#,Gb
G
1
G#, Ab
3
4
A
A#,Bb
B
C
C#,Db
D
D#,Eb
E
This is a G power chord. The root is on the
6th string 3rd fret and the 5th string 5th fret.
Be sure to think of them that way. These
can be used for any major, minor or 7th type
chord. Do not hit the other strings!!
Learn the notes on each of the strings!!
Learn the positions so that you can spot any
note on the guitar.
This slide shows the notes on the 6th string,
which is also the same notes on the 1st
string. Memorize these ASAP!!!
Power Chords
F
G# or Ab
G
F# or Gb
1
6th
Here are the
root
power chords. Take
your time and
memorize them.
These can be used
against all Major,
Minor and Dominant
(7th) chords. Will not
work on augmented
or diminished chords
but since those are
rarely used in rock
and popular music it
isn’t much of an
issue.
These power chords
only have 2 different
notes to them the root
and the 5th note of the
scale.
1
3 4
1
1
3 4
3 4
3 4
A# or Bb
A
B
C
1
1
3 4
1
1
3 4
3 4
C# or Db
3 4
D
D# or Eb
E
1
3 4
1
1
1
3 4
3 4
3 4
Power Chords
A# or Bb
C
B
C# or Db
1
2nd
This is the
set with the
th
5 string root chords.
Between the 2 sets you now
should know all the notes on
the 6th and 5th strings. This
also gives you the notes on
the 3rd string as the note you
play on the 3rd string is the
same as the name of the
note on the 5th string.
By now you should be
getting where the notes are
on the 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd
strings and since the 6th and
1st strings have the same
name you also have the
notes on the first string.
1
1
3 4
1
3 4
3 4
3 4
D
D# or Eb
E
F
1
1
3 4
1
1
3 4
3 4
F# or Gb
3 4
G
G# or Ab
A
1
3 4
1
1
3 4
1
3 4
3 4
Let’s try a song using just power
chords!!
For this song we will play just F, Bb, and C power chords. F is at the
1st fret, Bb at the 6th fret and C is at the 8th fret.
4/4||: F
|
| Bb |
| C |
| Bb
| C
| Bb
|
: ||
Now twice as fast.
4/4||: F
| Bb
This could be a song such as The Joker.
: ||
Power Chords
E
1
F
F#,Gb
3
4
G
G#, Ab
A
A#,Bb
B
C
C#,Db
D
D#,Eb
E
Here are the notes on the 4th string. Use
this to really learn the notes and visualize
that there are 2 roots to these power chords!
This is very important.
Your goal for next week is to learn the
names of the notes on the 1st, 4th and 6th
strings. That will put you about ½ way
through learning the notes. I don’t expect
them to be just at your fingertips but that you
can figure them out.