Alternate Power Chord Shapes

This article is about power chords, but playing power chords on the guitar's thinner strings. Two more finger shapes exist to play power chords on the thinner strings. This article will show you these shapes, how to use them, and how cool they are. Most guitar players are probably familiar with power chords on the heavier strings. These power chord finger shapes typically involve strings six, five, four, and then five, four, and three and are shown by the following examples:

• First finger on the 6th string at the fifth fret (root note A);
• The third finger on the 5th string at the seventh fret;
• The fourth finger on the 4th string and also at the seventh fret.

Then, we typically take the same shape/finger pattern by placing:

• First finger on the 5th string at the fifth fret (root note D);
• The third finger on the 4th string at the seventh fret;
• The fourth finger on the 3rd string at the seventh fret.

However, two other finger shapes can be used to create power chords using the root, the fifth, and then the root again. One of these finger shapes is on strings four, three, and two:

• First finger on the 4th string of the seventh fret(root is A)
• The Third finger is two frets higher on the ninth fret on the 3rd string;
• The fourth finger on the tenth fret on the 2nd string.

The other shape to use is on strings three, two, and one:

• First finger on the 3rd string at the seventh fret (root note D);
• The fourth finger on the 2nd string at the tenth fret.
• The fourth finger on the 1st string at the tenth fret.

This shape puts your fourth finger on the two thinnest strings, barring them.

You can take a riff or chord progression that you would typically use on the thicker string power chords and move them one octave higher.

Whether you use the shapes as octaves doesn't matter. Two additional power chord shapes exist on your thinner strings that you should know about. 

Experiment and have fun. See how it sounds as you move up and down the fretboard. 

And remember ... always have fun with your guitar!

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About Mark Turko: Mark Turko is a professional guitar player and instructor with over 30 years of experience and teaches guitar lessons online.