Power Chords 2
So once you have got those 6th string root Power Chords down we can get into the notes with a 5th string root. The principle is exactly the same but the notes are different of course and there is an additional technique needed..
Now with a fifth string root...
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Use only your 1st, 3rd an 4th fingers as shown, and start by putting your 1st finger in the 3rd fret of the 6th string (the note G). Then put down your 3rd and 4th fingers, if this is a bit of stretch don't worry, you will soon limber up! Try to keep them together, the 3rd finger kinda on top of the 4th as shown below.
Now you have to mute the 6th string!
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Now notice that the 6th string must not be played. Power Chord with the root on the 5th string will sound very bad indeed if you forget to mute this string. So how do you do that? Well we use then of our first finger, the very tip to press on the side of the the 6th string. No hard enough to make the note sound, but hard enough to stop the note ringing out. See the photo and try and copy my hand position. |
Take a listen
It should sound like this when you play all the strings, from fattest to thinnest (6th to 1st). Remembering that the 6th string is now muted (that is the first note you will hear.
And Then There Were Two Root Notes
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So if you look closely now at the neck diagram below you can see that there are now two ways of playing every power chord! One with the 6th string root and one with the 5th string root!
Two Ways To Play So make sure that you understand that every power chord can be played in two places in the neck. You will have to learn how to figure out which one you should use when. Use a little logic, and listen. Sometimes it is better to play them all on one string anyway, because the sound will stay consistent. Use your ears and your head!
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Video Lesson
Justins own CD-ROM for learning Power Chords
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To compliment these lessons I think you will like a product I made for the Charanga company which has a number of songs that I wrote and produced you can play along with. It teaches you all the rock rhythm techniques and rhythms learnt in these lessons and the songs progress from very easy to totally rockin'. It is downloadable and you can even record your own guitar and listen back to yourself playing along with the tracks! It is a great way to learn, great fun and by the end you will really be cooking! It really is cool, there are loads of pictures and as you look at the music a neck shows you where to put your fingers on the animated fingerboard. If you buy it - enter JustinSandercoe as a promotional code and you will get 33% discount too. Check it all out here: Music Coach Rock Powerchords |
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HELP!!!!
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If you need to ask a question about this lesson - there is a topic set up specifically to help you with this lesson. To help you find it easily you can click the following link and it will take you right the topic. You'll be able to see questions that other people had and ask your own questions! Hopefully one of the very helpful members of our community will be there to help you soon, I do go there and answer stuff too - but there are just too many questions for me to answer alone! |






