Power chords

What the 'power chords' is?

Power chords sounds like rock music,In guitar, a power chord or a fifth chord is a chord that consists of the root note and the fifth interval.Power are especially played on electric guitar. Power Chords are the main element of 'rock music'.Power chords are not at all difficult to hold , it is very easy to hold it. You just have to do is to press the two notes only i.e. root note and the fifth note . In power chords we are not playing 3rd note.
Suppose you want to play 'C5' chord then for that you have to play just two notes 'C' and 'G' . 'C' chord is made up of C E G notes . 'C' is the root note and 'G' is the fifth note of 'C' major scale. And we not playing note 'E'.
Remember one thing in power chords,you have to play only two strings,not all the strings.

'C5' Chord

As you can see in the chord diagram of 'C5',just two notes are played,on two strings. On the 3rd fret 'A' string is 'C' note and 5th fret 'D' string is the 'G' note. x sign means these strings will not be played.

This is the for all the power chords common shape ,if you moved that shape up on the fretboard then different-different power chords will be played.

'G5' Chord

'G5' chord is played on the same fret as of the 'C5' chord,just position of fingers is changed. See carefully both the chords and you will find the difference.On the 3rd fret bass 'E' string is 'G' note and on the 5th fret 'A' string is 'D' note. Thus 'G' and 'D' notes we have to play in 'G5' chord. 'G5' and 'C5' chord shape are the common shape of power chords.

'A5' Chord

'A5' chord is played by moving whole step from 'G5' chord. On the 5rd fret bass 'E' string is 'A' note and on the 7th fret 'A' string is 'E' note. Thus 'A' and 'E' notes we have to play in 'A5' chord. 'A' is the root note of 'A' major scale and 'E' is the fifth note.

'E5' Chord

For 'E5' chord you have to move the shape of 'C5' chord up to the 7th fret. The three notes of 'E' major chord are E G# B. But we play only 'E' and 'B' note.

Similarly, you can play any power chord you want. If you want to play D5 chord , then you have to is to move whole step down to the 'E5' chord. That chord will be 'D5' chord.

Practice this chord progression

C5 - A5 - D5 - G5

And also this 

E5-C5-D5

Play 'E5' 8 times downstrokes then, 'C5' 4 times and 'D5' 4 times. Keep on playing this progression you feel very proud to yourselves.

Points to be noted:

• Power chords are also called as a "fifth" chord. If you see a chord written as G5,then it is a G power chord.
• A common fingering for a power chord is to play the root note with the first finger, while the third finger barres the other two notes.
• Power chords are generally used in pop, rock, and blues music. Because they are not big, full sounding chords, power chords are not commonly used in acoustic strumming situations.
• Many guitarists prefer to use all downstrokes when strumming power chords. This results in a more "clumsy" sound. This is not a function of the 'power chords'.