Power chord exercise in eighths, for rock and metal
Power chords in eighths, E5 to G5 and A5, then to D5 and C5, all downstrokes. Moving between chords without a gap or a late chord is the core of playing rhythm in a band, and it trains the fretting hand to shift as one shape. Muting the unused strings keeps the distorted sound tight.
Opens in the player looped and counted in, with the metronome on, and speeds up 5 % every 2 loops to 140 bpm. No account or microphone needed.
- Goal tempo
- 140 bpm
- Starts at
- 84 bpm
- Length
- 2 bars, looped
- Tuning
- E standard
How to play it
Downstrokes only; the fretting hand's spare fingers mute the strings you don't play.
Power chords here are three notes: the root, the fifth two frets up on the next string and the octave on the string after that. E5 uses the open low E, G5 and A5 are on the low E at the 3rd and 5th frets, D5 and C5 on the A string at the 5th and 3rd.
Keep the shape locked and move the whole hand as one. Relax the pressure for a moment as you shift, so the chord doesn't drag along the string, and press again as it lands.
Mistakes to watch for
- A gap in the sound before each new chord because the hand lets go too early.
- Unplayed strings ringing: the index finger's underside should rest on the higher strings.
- Changing the shape on the move between the low E and A string chords.
A speed plan
The player starts at 60 % of the goal and plays each tempo twice before stepping up:
- 84
- 91
- 98
- 105
- 112
- 119
- 126
- 133
- 140
That's 16 loops and about a minute before you're playing at 140 bpm. If it stops being clean on the way, stop the ramp there and loop that tempo until it is. With a microphone or an audio interface you can record while you play instead: Demiurg checks every loop and steps up only after two clean ones in a row, and back down after a poor one.
Questions
How fast should I play Power chords in 8ths?
The goal is 140 bpm in eighth notes, which is 4.7 notes a second. Start wherever every note is clean: the player begins at 84 bpm. Signed in, you can set a goal of your own, slower or faster, on the Exercises page.
What fingers should I use for power chords?
The 1st finger on the root and the 3rd and 4th fingers on the other two notes is the most common. Some players use the 3rd finger across both upper notes.
Why does my power chord sound muddy with distortion?
Usually because extra strings are ringing or the notes aren't pressed fully. Mute everything you're not playing and check each note rings on its own.