Learn an A Power Chord Right Now
Also known as a "fifth" chord or a power chord, the A5 chord one of the three chords required to play a basic 12-bar blues in the key of E. It's a simple chord to play - one that will only take you moments to learn.
How to Play the Chord
Hold your first finger on the second fret of the fourth string. Now, strum the fifth string (open) with the fourth string. Be sure to hit only the fifth and fourth strings when strumming - try playing the strings one at a time to ensure both are ringing clearly.
Once you're comfortable playing this basic version of the A5 chord, experiment with the alternate (but not really any trickier) version. To do this:
About the A5 Chord
The A5 chord, like all 5th chords, is neither major nor minor. This is because the A5 chord contains only the "root" and the "fifth" of the chord - it doesn't contain the "third", the note which determines whether a chord is major or minor. As a result, the chord can be used in situations where either major or minor chords are called for.
Which isn't to say the A5 is the right chord to use whenever you need to play an A major or A minor - it isn't. The A5 chord has a very specific use - most commonly in blues and rock music. Because it has only two notes, it doesn't have a "full" sound - you'd very rarely use the chord when playing folk songs, for example.
Guitar Lessons Featuring the A Power Chord
YouTube: How To Play the A5 Power Chord On Guitar - If you're a visual person, this short video clip will show you how to play an A5 chord in several positions.
This version of the A5 chord contains the exact same notes as the open A5 chord, but the shape is different. Here is the A power chord shape that gets used in tens of thousands of rock songs over the past 50 years.
The good news is - this is an easy chord to play.
How to Play This A5 Chord
Once you're comfortable playing this power chord shape, you're well on your way to learning thousands of songs. That's because you can move this shape around to other frets to create other chords. By simply sliding this shape up two frets to the seventh fret, you are playing a B5 chord. Similarly, by sliding this shape down two frets to the third fret, you create a G5 chord. Learning these chords all over the fretboard will allow you to play almost any song you desire. To get started, check out this lesson on learning notes all over the fretboard.
Next Steps
Now you've learned an A5 chord, find other chords you don't know. The guitar chord library contains hundreds of the chords most common chords you can use to improve your guitar playing.
How to Play the Chord
Hold your first finger on the second fret of the fourth string. Now, strum the fifth string (open) with the fourth string. Be sure to hit only the fifth and fourth strings when strumming - try playing the strings one at a time to ensure both are ringing clearly.
Once you're comfortable playing this basic version of the A5 chord, experiment with the alternate (but not really any trickier) version. To do this:
- put your first finger on the second fret of the fourth string
- flatten your first finger slightly so it also covers the second fret of the third string
- strum the open fifth string along with the fourth and third strings
About the A5 Chord
The A5 chord, like all 5th chords, is neither major nor minor. This is because the A5 chord contains only the "root" and the "fifth" of the chord - it doesn't contain the "third", the note which determines whether a chord is major or minor. As a result, the chord can be used in situations where either major or minor chords are called for.
Which isn't to say the A5 is the right chord to use whenever you need to play an A major or A minor - it isn't. The A5 chord has a very specific use - most commonly in blues and rock music. Because it has only two notes, it doesn't have a "full" sound - you'd very rarely use the chord when playing folk songs, for example.
Guitar Lessons Featuring the A Power Chord
YouTube: How To Play the A5 Power Chord On Guitar - If you're a visual person, this short video clip will show you how to play an A5 chord in several positions.
This version of the A5 chord contains the exact same notes as the open A5 chord, but the shape is different. Here is the A power chord shape that gets used in tens of thousands of rock songs over the past 50 years.
The good news is - this is an easy chord to play.
How to Play This A5 Chord
- Place your first finger on the fifth fret of the sixth string
- Now, put your third finger on the seventh fret of the fifth string
- Lastly, place your fourth (pinky) finger on the seventh fret of the fourth string
- Strum the chord, ensuring you are only hitting strings six, five and four
Once you're comfortable playing this power chord shape, you're well on your way to learning thousands of songs. That's because you can move this shape around to other frets to create other chords. By simply sliding this shape up two frets to the seventh fret, you are playing a B5 chord. Similarly, by sliding this shape down two frets to the third fret, you create a G5 chord. Learning these chords all over the fretboard will allow you to play almost any song you desire. To get started, check out this lesson on learning notes all over the fretboard.
Next Steps
Now you've learned an A5 chord, find other chords you don't know. The guitar chord library contains hundreds of the chords most common chords you can use to improve your guitar playing.
