Metal in E — power chords, getting started
First contact with the catalogue's power chords: E5, G5, A5, played in tight eighth notes for a sound closer to metal/rock than a classic pop strum. A power chord only has two or three notes (the root, its fifth, sometimes its octave) and never a third — it's that missing third that makes it easier to move between than a full chord, but also faster to shift: once the hand shape is memorised on E5, that same shape moves almost as-is onto G5 and A5. Learning this one shape instead of three different ones is the whole point of this sheet.
Tips
Memorise the hand shape on E5 (root + 2 strings) before thinking about the other chords: it's that same shape, shifted, that gives you G5 and A5.
Keep the fingers that aren't playing resting lightly on the neighbouring strings, without pressing: that stops them ringing by accident and ruining the tight effect you're after.
Don't chase speed yet: a poorly muted power chord sounds just as wrong as a badly placed chord, even played slowly.
Chord progression — E
Chords
Suggested next step: Metal in A — power chords, fast changes
Related sheets
- Metal in A — fingerstyle (Level 2)
- Metal in B — arpeggios (Level 2)
- Metal in E — fingerstyle (Level 2)