D power chord guitar chord (D5)

A power chord only has the root and the fifth, no third: it is neither major nor minor. With distortion it sounds powerful and tight: the foundation of rock and metal.

Positions and fingerings

× muted string · o open string · numbers: fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky)

Chord notes

NoteInterval
Droot
Aperfect fifth

Formula: 1 – 5 · D – A

A progression with this chord

  1. D5I5
  2. C5♭VII5
  3. G5IV5

A typical rock power-chord sequence.

Other D chords

The same chord on other roots