E power chord guitar chord (E5)

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
Eroot
Bperfect fifth

Formula: 1 – 5 · E – B

A progression with this chord

  1. E5I5
  2. D5♭VII5
  3. A5IV5

A typical rock power-chord sequence.

Other E chords

The same chord on other roots