Power chords and palm muting
Guitar · Barre chords, power chords and rock · Level 3 · 12 min
The power chord (a fifth chord, written “5”: E5, A5…) contains only the root and fifth, often with the root doubled an octave up. Neither major nor minor, it sounds strong and clear, especially with distortion: it is the chord of rock, punk and metal.
The movable shape: index on the root (string 6 or 5), ring finger two frets up on the next string, little finger beside it for the octave. Move it without changing the shape: G5 at fret 3, A5 at fret 5, C5 at fret 8…
Palm muting
Rest the edge of your picking-hand palm on the strings, just in front of the bridge. The sound becomes dull and percussive (“chug”). The further towards the neck, the more muted. Alternate muted notes and open chords to create contrast.
M:4/4 L:1/8 Q:1/4=110 K:Em clef=treble-8 "E5"[E,B,] [E,B,] [E,B,] [E,B,] "G5"[G,D]2 "A5"[A,E]2 | "E5"[E,B,] [E,B,] [E,B,] [E,B,] "D5"[DA]2 "A5"[A,E]2 |]
Use downstrokes only for an even sound, and mute unused strings with the pad of your index finger lying flat.