Power chords are the foundation of rock, punk, and metal. They are only two notes (root and fifth) so they sound huge when you crank the gain. Three shapes get you most of the way.
The three core shapes
Root on string 6
Root on string 5
Root on string 6
- E5: root on the low E string, open. Fingers on the A and D strings at fret 2.
- A5: root on the A string, open. Fingers on the D and G strings at fret 2.
- G5: root on the low E at fret 3. Fingers on the A and D strings at fret 5. Movable shape. Slide it up two frets to get A5 on the 6th string, down to get F5.
Mute the strings you are not playing
Power chords have only 2 to 3 strings ringing. The rest stay quiet. Use the underside of your fretting fingers to deaden the high strings, and the side of your strumming-hand palm against the low E if needed.Drill it slow before fast
Practice metronome
60BPM
Set 60 BPM. Strum one chord per click, four clicks per chord, for E5 then A5 then G5 then back. Do this for five minutes. The shape needs to feel automatic before you speed up.