How to Play a Power Chord | Bass Guitar

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Power chords get their name because they provide support because you can play the root and the fifth of a chord, giving it a wider sound and a stronger bass. Power chords can also be used in minor and major contexts because there's no third, so it's just an open fifth sound. You get the sound of a power chord by playing any note, and then playing the fifth from that note which is, on a bass, often one string up and two frets over. This power chord sound can then be applied and moved in the same shape anywhere on the instrument you want to. If you're playing an open string, you can get the power chord sound by playing the second fret of the string right above it. Here's some examples of playing power chords. A variation you can play with power chords is to add the octave of your root note. If you're gonna play an E power chord with the root on top, you can play an E as the seventh fret, and the A string. The fifth, B, which is the ninth fret on the D string, and then the E again - that's the 9th fret on the G. So sometimes this can be an even stronger sound to use if you want a full chord sound imitating a bar chord sound on a guitar. And that's how to play power chords on the bass.

[johnfollis]

I play at my church and I find places where I can stick in a power chord and sometimes I extend it with the octave at the end of a fast pace song. But for a groovy effect during the third chorus, I will play the root and it's octave together. Creating an octave chord.

[megavengian]

Man this guy is brilliant, straight to the point and clear. Wish videos nowadays were like this.

[JohnDoe-zxck]

Man, this was a short, sweet, and effective video. Very nicely done.

[borgshadow]

nice stuff, great to surprise your gitarrist :DD 

[southboygreen]

Thank you so much I've searched for a video like this for so long

[goffdroid]

It's all transferable. I love this new language. Played drums picked up guitar too . bass seems to bridge the gap.

[maximiliano]

How can you hold power chords on a bass throughout an entire song? Every time I play a power chord for more than a couple of bars my wrist hurts like hell.

[jamesc]

When a guitarist picks up your bass and starts playing power chords makes your eye twitch

[uhhhhyourmom]

Man that is powerful sounding. Sort of slaps you right in the face yes it does.

[skatetolivelife]

I came here for how to plug in a power cord

[elinelson]

Why dont you explain this to me like im 5