Power Chords

[The Monorails]

Index and ring with the middle finger flipping the bird and the pinky daintily extended for that little touch of class.

 

[Orvillain]

Both. I try to follow the one finger per fret method as much as possible. So if I'm playing a root and a 5th, I'll use index and ring finger. But if I'm playing a root and an augmented 5th, or even a 6th or 7th, I'll use my index and ring - if I've got my intervals right there.

Basically I try to be as flexible as I can be, so I can write as many boring Tool, ISIS, and Mastodon, rip-off riffs as I can.

 

[Stone]

I See Petrucci also does the Pinky thing

 

[FuzzyAce]

I prefer barring with my pinky, but usually it's just my index/ring/pinky.

 

[Brandon7s]

Index, Ring, Pinky here, 90% of the time. I'll do just Index and Ring if its an easier transition from the prior chord and/or the next chord.

 

[itchyfingers]

I've always considered a power chord to strictly be root & V, just two notes, no superfluous bullshit notes or doubling. Am I doing it wrong?

Anyway, I use index and ring since theyre one string and one whole step apart, or I'll invert it and just play index cause the V is right over the root on everything but the B string - these actually sound cleanest to me.

 

[Orvillain]

I've always considered a power chord to strictly be root & V, just two notes, no superfluous bullshit notes or doubling. Am I doing it wrong?

Anyway, I use index and ring since theyre one string and one whole step apart, or I'll invert it and just play index cause the V is right over the root on everything but the B string - these actually sound cleanest to me.

I mean, no classical music teacher would ever use the term power chord. It is just made up guitarist bullshit really. So they can be whatever you want them to be!

 

[la szum]

Itchy is correct. If you "Barre" with any finger then it is not a "Power Chord." Duh!?






Also, that is spelt properly. You go to the "Bar" to drink and do a gig, not to play multiple strings on a
stringed instrument with a single finger. That is called a "Barre."

Class dismissed.

 

[Bruce]

Depends where on the neck but I have clubby pudgy fingers, so.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I've always considered a power chord to strictly be root & V, just two notes, no superfluous bullshit notes or doubling. Am I doing it wrong?

Anyway, I use index and ring since theyre one string and one whole step apart, or I'll invert it and just play index cause the V is right over the root on everything but the B string - these actually sound cleanest to me.

This thread has been making me question myself

For 17 years a power chord to me has been root-5th-octave (ie an A power chord would be: 5-7-7)

But it sounds like I’ve been plying too many damn notes

 

[Stone]

This thread has been making me question myself

For 17 years a power chord to me has been root-5th-octave (ie an A power chord would be: 5-7-7)

But it sounds like I’ve been plying too many damn notes

No, it depends on the Song

 

[la szum]

No, it depends on the Song

Nope. Two notes. Root/Fifth. Itchy is right, and he will fight you to the death over this.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Is this a Power Chord:
x 0 0 2 3 x ?

 

[duzie]

Is this a Power Chord:
x 0 0 2 3 x ?

Malcolm would agree

 

[la szum]

It's a chord for sure.

 

[norminal]

Both. Usually index and pinky on the lower register and index and ring on the higher.

 

[maguchi]

Index and ring, or sometimes the index and middle. I save the pinky so I can add the 6th or 7th if needed or wanted a la Chuck Berry style. If no 6th or 7th needed, still use the index and ring. I got used to it from my early days of playing.

 

[kartikg3]

or sometimes the index and middle

Wow that's a very novel approach..I should try this.. makes sense why you would use that

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

If I'm doing the Ace power chord to major 7th/5th thing, I'm using index and pinky. If I'm doing the In My Dreams thing where I'm going from root/5th to root/minor 6th, then I'm using index and ring.

 

[GTR37]

Index , ring and pinky usually,
I want the index to be able to come off and the ring and pinky has the diad of the chord