Power Chords 101 Rock’s Two-Note Shapes

Power chords are the backbone of rock music, and mastering them opens the door to countless songs across genres from punk to metal to alternative rock. Unlike full chords that use three or more notes, power chords use just two notes—the root and the fifth—creating a bold, driving sound that cuts through distortion beautifully. This collection focuses on the essential power chord shapes every beginning guitarist needs to know, starting with open positions and progressing to moveable shapes that will serve you for years to come. These nine fundamental power chords give you the foundation to play hundreds of rock songs while building the finger strength and fret-hand coordination essential for your guitar journey.

 

E Power

 Standard
E Power
Your first power chord uses the open low E string paired with the 2nd fret of the A string. This massive-sounding chord appears in countless rock anthems and gives you an immediate taste of power chord authority without requiring complex finger positioning.

A Power

 Standard
A Power
Built on the open A string with the 2nd fret of the D string, this chord teaches you the 5th-to-4th string power chord relationship. The A5 is particularly useful because it naturally leads to many other chords and appears frequently in rock progressions.

F Power

 Standard
F Power
Your first moveable power chord introduces the fundamental 6th-string root shape. Press the 1st fret of the low E string with your first finger and the 3rd fret of the A string with your third finger—this two-finger pattern becomes the template for dozens of other power chords.

G Power

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G Power
Using the same finger pattern as F5 but moved up two frets, G5 demonstrates how power chord shapes move up the neck. This chord appears in many beginner-friendly rock songs and helps develop fret-hand strength in the higher positions.

A Power

 Standard
A Power
This moveable version of A5 shows how the same note can be played in different positions on the guitar. Compare its fuller sound to the open A5—both are useful, but this fretted version offers more control over sustain and muting.

C Power

 Standard
C Power
Your first 5th-string root power chord opens up a new section of the neck. Place your first finger on the 3rd fret of the A string and your third finger on the 5th fret of the D string—this shape is crucial for playing power chord progressions that move between bass notes.

D Power

 Standard
D Power
Using the same 5th-string root pattern as C5, this chord helps you understand how power chords connect across the fretboard. D5 is particularly common in rock music and often pairs beautifully with the open A5 and E5 chords.

E Power

 Standard
E Power
This high-register E5 demonstrates how the same chord can be voiced in multiple positions. While it's the same note as your open E5, this fretted version sits in a different frequency range and offers unique sonic possibilities for lead-style power chord work.

D Power

 Drop D
D Power
Bonus: Tune your low E string down to D and strum all five strings unfretted for this massive wall of sound. Drop D tuning creates instant power chords across multiple strings, giving you access to chord voicings that would be impossible in standard tuning and introducing you to alternate tuning concepts.

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