Lesson Goal: To quickly internalize Power Chords in all spellings… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…
Table of Contents
Power Chords Wiki
C Power Chord
- Chord symbol: C5
- Chord structure: 1-5-8
- Character: Bold, Heroic, Open, Primitive, Powerful (thus the name), Tonality Ambiguous.
Notice the very open, tonally ambiguous sound-feeling of the power chord. Since “the 3” is missing, it begs the question: Is it Major? Minor? Neither? Both?
The answer, of course, is it all depends on the tonality (Major, Minor, Blues, Mixolydian, Dorian, other?), context, and what the composer or improviser chooses to do with it!
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Chord Structure for Power Chords
The Chord Structure for all Power Chords = 1-5-8.
Common Uses for Power Chords
- As a Drone chord in any Tonality.
- As a I, IV, or bVII chord in a Mixolydian Tonality.
- As a I, bIII, IV, #IV, V, and bVII chord in a Blues or Dorian Tonality.
Names, Spellings, & Keyboard Layouts
Lesson Goal: To name, spell, hear, and visualize the keyboard layout for power chords…
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Power Chord Names, Spellings, & Keyboard Layouts, All Keys
Lesson Goal: To name, spell, hear, and visualize the keyboard layout for the most commonly used Power Chords…
About Learning to Spell Power Chords
Learn to spell each power chord just as you spell any three-letter palindrome in English. Examples: Mom, Dad, Wow, SOS, BRB. LOL. Likewise, you spell a C Power Chord C-E-C and D Power Chord D-A-D.
C Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: C5
- Spelling = C-G-C
C# Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: C#5
- Spelling = C#-G#-C#
Notice that the C# power chord uses the exact same physical keys as the Db power chord.
Db Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: Db5
- Spelling = Db-Ab-Db
Notice that the Db power chord uses the exact same physical keys as the C# power chord.
D Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: D5
- Spelling = D-A-D
Eb Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: Eb5
- Spelling = Eb-Bb-Eb
E Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: E5
- Spelling = E-B-E
F Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: F5
- Spelling = F-C-F
F# Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: F#5
- Spelling = F#-C#-F#
Notice that the F# power chord uses the exact same physical keys as the Gb power chord.
Gb Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: Gb5
- Spelling = Gb-Db-Gb
Notice that the Gb power chord uses the exact same physical keys as the F# power chord.
G Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: G5
- Spelling = G-D-G
G# Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: G#5
- Spelling = G#-D#-G#
Notice that the G# power chord uses the exact same physical keys as the Ab power chord.
Ab Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: Ab5
- Spelling = Ab-Eb-Ab
Notice that the Ab power chord uses the exact same physical keys as the G# power chord.
A Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: A5
- Spelling = A-E-A
Bb Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: Bb5
- Spelling = Bb-F-Bb
B Power Chord
- Chord Symbol: B5
- Spelling = B-F#-B
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