GUITAR POWER CHORDS

Guitar power chords are generally thought of rock or even metal chords, but neoclassical fusion players and other styles use them as well. These types of chords are often thought of as easy chords, especially because they are usually learned as having 2 notes in them, but there is much more to their use than what one may generally think of when the guitar player does not have a strong background in music theory and soloing and improvisation.

Power chords can actually be very flexible in their use and therefore used for advanced soloing over, in the neoclassical fusion style for example. Guitar power chords are chords that have a root tone in them with a 5th degree. However, those tones may be repeated within the chord to make a larger sounding chord. Also they can be inverted and have altered 5th degrees.

The guitar power chord is both one of the true family of easy guitar chords and yet is also a very advanced chord depending on how it is used. While one learning the art of soloing and lead playing will enjoy power chords as a great way to start learning how to use scales with chords in a more easy way, sometimes the reality is that these types of chords can open the student up to more confusion than clarity. This is due to the fact of their root - fifth tone configuration.

Guitar power chords can have another tone along with these two tones. As you learn them and music theory, this will make more sense to you. Also they can be substituted for other chords in a more broad manner which can make interpreting an artists solo more difficult in trying to understand the context of how they are using that type of chord.