Power chords - The basic rock guitar chords
Power chords, also known as 5 chords, as in G5 or A5, are basically a simplified version of a major or minor chord. If you already know how to play major or minor barre chords in the E or E minor shape, then mastering power chords will be a walk in the park.
The practical side of playing power chords requires that instead of playing all the notes of an E shape barre chord, you simply play the 6th, 5th and 4th string, while blocking the sound of the other three strings by a simple action of lifting your index finger slightly off the fretboard so that your finger actually muffles, or mutes the sound of the unplayed strings.
Power chords are named the same as the E shaped barre chords, except that they will be named with the suffix 5, as in F5 or D5 and not major or minor.
Learn to play power chords and you’ll be on your way to laying down some good sounding rock guitar in no time.
A good distortion sound is mandatory.