So you may want to visit my website for:
- Chords & tabs of Hindi songs (movies, oldies, pop)
- Chords & tabs of English songs (few songs of all genres)
Monday, November 06, 2006
About getting chords
And also, people are led to this blog while searching for chords of various songs.
So you may want to visit my website for:
So you may want to visit my website for:
About the 5th chords and how to play them
I was analyzing the StatCounter statistics just now. Interestingly, one of the search phrases that lead people to my blog is "how to play the 5th chord" :-). I'm sure, those poor surfers are disappointed big time seeing the title above.
So, here I write, how to play the 5th chords (also called power chords).
Theory
Normally the chords follow the I-III-V theory (1-3-5). That is when you write any scale (say C-scale):
C D E F G A B C
the C root chord plays the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the C-scale (C, E and G; remember the basic C chord [0 3 2 0 1 0] => [E C E G C E]). So any X-root chord, plays 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the X-scale. And how to write the scale, well, post a comment here (leaving your mail id) and I'll let you know (a bit of brand loyalty ;-))).
Now, the 5th chord like X5 (e.g. C5, G5 etc.) is played by taking the 1st & 5th notes of the scale only. And therefore, in the above example of C-scale:
C D E F G A B C
only C and G notes are played.
Practice
Okay, enough of theory. Now how to play them. Here is the dictionary for all the 5th chords (and alternatives of the same chord; just choose whichever you're most comfortable with).
BTW, power chords are generally played on electric guitar for the "metal" effect in the generally-perceived "rock" songs (whatever be the level of hardness of rock ;-)).
Before playing any 5th chord, please see that you're comfortable with the barre chords. Now, when you play any barre chord, just mute the strings as mentioned in the dictionary below.
It's not quite difficult to play A5 [5 7 7 x x 5]. Note that you can mute the first string (E thinnest) as well. So in effect, you hold an A-barre and strum only the last three strings (E thickest, A and D).
In the above shape, you can see F5, F#5, G5, G#5, A5, A#5, B5.
For C, D, their sharps and E chords, the shape changes slightly (you may continue forwards as above on electric guitar as it gives you enough room; but in case you want other shapes, please read on).
Hold the C-barre chord, and play the 3rd, 4th and 5th strings (G, D and A). And that's it. Happy guitaring!
5th chord Dictionary
A5 or A(no 3rd) [5 7 7 x x 5] (E A): root and 5th (power chord)
A5 or A(no 3rd) [x 0 2 2 x 0] (E A) : root and 5th (power chord)
A5 or A(no 3rd) [5 7 7 x x 0] (E A) : root and 5th (power chord)
B5 or B(no 3rd) [7 9 9 x x 2] (Gb B): root and 5th (power chord)
B5 or B(no 3rd) [x 2 4 4 x 2] (Gb B): root and 5th (power chord)
C5 or C(no 3rd) [x 3 5 5 x 3] (C G): root and 5th (power chord)
D5 or D(no 3rd) [5 5 7 7 x 5] (D A): root and 5th (power chord)
D5 or D(no 3rd) [x 0 0 2 3 5] (D A): root and 5th (power chord)
E5 or E(no 3rd) [0 2 x x x 0] (E B) : root and 5th (power chord)
E5 or E(no 3rd) [x 7 9 9 x 0] (E B) : root and 5th (power chord)
F5 or F(no 3rd) [1 3 3 x x 1] (C F): root and 5th (power chord)
F5 or F(no 3rd) [x 8 10 x x 1] (C F): root and 5th (power chord)
G5 or G(no 3rd) [3 5 5 x x 3] (D G): root and 5th (power chord)
G5 or G(no 3rd) [3 x 0 0 3 3] (D G) : root and 5th (power chord)
Ab5 or Ab(no 3rd)[4 6 6 x x 4] (Eb Ab): root and 5th (power chord)
Bb5 or Bb(no 3rd)[6 8 8 x x 6] (F Bb): root and 5th (power chord)
Bb5 or Bb(no 3rd)[x 1 3 3 x 6] (F Bb): root and 5th (power chord)
Db5 or Db(no 3rd)[x 4 6 6 x 4] (Db Ab): root and 5th (power chord)
Eb5 or Eb(no 3rd)[x 6 8 8 x 6] (Eb Bb): root and 5th (power chord)
Some helpful links
So, here I write, how to play the 5th chords (also called power chords).
Theory
Normally the chords follow the I-III-V theory (1-3-5). That is when you write any scale (say C-scale):
C D E F G A B C
the C root chord plays the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the C-scale (C, E and G; remember the basic C chord [0 3 2 0 1 0] => [E C E G C E]). So any X-root chord, plays 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the X-scale. And how to write the scale, well, post a comment here (leaving your mail id) and I'll let you know (a bit of brand loyalty ;-))).
Now, the 5th chord like X5 (e.g. C5, G5 etc.) is played by taking the 1st & 5th notes of the scale only. And therefore, in the above example of C-scale:
C D E F G A B C
only C and G notes are played.
Practice
Okay, enough of theory. Now how to play them. Here is the dictionary for all the 5th chords (and alternatives of the same chord; just choose whichever you're most comfortable with).
BTW, power chords are generally played on electric guitar for the "metal" effect in the generally-perceived "rock" songs (whatever be the level of hardness of rock ;-)).
Before playing any 5th chord, please see that you're comfortable with the barre chords. Now, when you play any barre chord, just mute the strings as mentioned in the dictionary below.
It's not quite difficult to play A5 [5 7 7 x x 5]. Note that you can mute the first string (E thinnest) as well. So in effect, you hold an A-barre and strum only the last three strings (E thickest, A and D).
In the above shape, you can see F5, F#5, G5, G#5, A5, A#5, B5.
For C, D, their sharps and E chords, the shape changes slightly (you may continue forwards as above on electric guitar as it gives you enough room; but in case you want other shapes, please read on).
Hold the C-barre chord, and play the 3rd, 4th and 5th strings (G, D and A). And that's it. Happy guitaring!
5th chord Dictionary
A5 or A(no 3rd) [5 7 7 x x 5] (E A): root and 5th (power chord)
A5 or A(no 3rd) [x 0 2 2 x 0] (E A) : root and 5th (power chord)
A5 or A(no 3rd) [5 7 7 x x 0] (E A) : root and 5th (power chord)
B5 or B(no 3rd) [7 9 9 x x 2] (Gb B): root and 5th (power chord)
B5 or B(no 3rd) [x 2 4 4 x 2] (Gb B): root and 5th (power chord)
C5 or C(no 3rd) [x 3 5 5 x 3] (C G): root and 5th (power chord)
D5 or D(no 3rd) [5 5 7 7 x 5] (D A): root and 5th (power chord)
D5 or D(no 3rd) [x 0 0 2 3 5] (D A): root and 5th (power chord)
E5 or E(no 3rd) [0 2 x x x 0] (E B) : root and 5th (power chord)
E5 or E(no 3rd) [x 7 9 9 x 0] (E B) : root and 5th (power chord)
F5 or F(no 3rd) [1 3 3 x x 1] (C F): root and 5th (power chord)
F5 or F(no 3rd) [x 8 10 x x 1] (C F): root and 5th (power chord)
G5 or G(no 3rd) [3 5 5 x x 3] (D G): root and 5th (power chord)
G5 or G(no 3rd) [3 x 0 0 3 3] (D G) : root and 5th (power chord)
Ab5 or Ab(no 3rd)[4 6 6 x x 4] (Eb Ab): root and 5th (power chord)
Bb5 or Bb(no 3rd)[6 8 8 x x 6] (F Bb): root and 5th (power chord)
Bb5 or Bb(no 3rd)[x 1 3 3 x 6] (F Bb): root and 5th (power chord)
Db5 or Db(no 3rd)[x 4 6 6 x 4] (Db Ab): root and 5th (power chord)
Eb5 or Eb(no 3rd)[x 6 8 8 x 6] (Eb Bb): root and 5th (power chord)
Some helpful links
- 5th chords: http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa092600c.htm
- Circle of the 5ths: http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/circle.html
- Power Chord tutorial I: http://www.acousticguitar.com/lessons/Power_Chords/1.html
- Another Power Chord tutorial: http://www.guitaralliance.com/guitar_lessons/power_chords/index.htm
- Basic Music theory: http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/
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