Movable Power Chords, pt. II - Fingering

Last month I began a short series of posts about power chords; two note chords comprising the root and 5th which are a staple in every guitarists arsenal. One of the most important aspects of playing any chord is how to finger it.

Power chords are fingered with the 1st and 3rd finger of the left hand; keep in mind properly using these fingers is quite important. Generally speaking when playing most chords the approach is to arch fingers and play on the fingertip so that the “pad” or backside of the does not lean into other strings and mute them. However, power chords require the fingers to “reach” in order to be placed on the strings (they are play on the lowest strings) so there will be a minimal arch in the second finger joint. Whereas, the 1st finger will almost be “straight” with a slight arch and the 3rd finger will have more so of one, but less arch than normal; the point of contact with the string for both fingers will be done mostly with the pad. 

1st finger straighter, 3rd finger more arch

An additional benefit of a lessened arch in the 1st and 3rd finger is that they will lean onto other strings and mute any sympathetic string noise or fundamental/harmonic frequencies which sound when other strings are played. Furthermore, a lessen arch in the fingers will require less bend in the wrist and therefore less strain on it. 

Less bend in the wrist

Think of how easily water runs through a garden hose when the hose is straight, but when you bend the hose the water has a more difficulty time passing through the hose. The more of a bend in your wrist you more difficult it is for your body to work efficiently. 

Too much bend in the wrist

Next month we’ll get into playing with power chords.

Movable Power Chords, pt. I

One of the most wonderful things about playing the guitar is being able to take a single shape for a chord or scale and move that shape to a different location create a new chord or scale. A single shape can instantaneously turn into 12 different chords or scales!

A feeling of excitement is almost unanimously felt when students learn how to start playing moveable closed power chords. Power chords are neither major nor minor as they contain only the Root and 5th of the chord (omitting the 3rd) and are generally referred to as “5” chord because of it. The root (or main note) of the chord is generally played with the 1st finger. As a normal course of study I introduce students to the two finger form of the power chord which is played on the 6th string.

Next month I’ll get into how to properly finger these chords so students can adapt their “super power’!

12 Bar Blues Revisited, pt. VI – The Turnaround and Quick Change

Since I began this series of posts on the 12 bar blues the musical examples I've have used applied it’s most basic form. This month I’ll close out the topic by covering two other of its forms: the turnaround and quick change.

A 12 bar blues which uses a “turnaround” is one where the last bar or twelfth bar of the progression is a “V” instead of “I” chord. It is so named a “turnaround” because it turns around to the beginning of the progression. Using a “V” chord at the end of the progression will either lead the song back to the start (so it can be repeated) or act as a cadence - the “I” chord will be played after the “V” to complete the progression. Here is and turnaround example to practice with.

A “quick change” is a commonly used variation of the 12 bar blues and it is one in which the second bar “I” chord is replaced by “IV”. It is aptly named as it quickly changes from a “I” to “IV” chord instead of staying on the one for four bars. This quick change example also has a turnaround at the end.

Try having students use basic blues progressions in as many different keys as possible to gain familiarity with not only the progression, but chords and keys as well!