How To Play A5 Guitar Chord
In today's lesson, we'll go over 3 distinct ways to play the A5 guitar chord. The technical term for this chord is a "5th chord," but its slang term is a "power chord" because it sounds POWERFUL to our ears!
They are built using the root note and the fifth note of the scale (hence the number 5) and not only sound great, but they are also very easy to learn, which is great for beginners.
Below, I've also included the recommended finger positions, notes on each guitar chord diagram to help you learn the fretboard, and a more in-depth music theory breakdown.
A5 Power Chord In Open Position
To play the A5, place your:
- Index finger on the fourth string, second fret
- Strum the fifth string and the fourth string
Be sure to only strum the two guitar strings indicated on the diagram and focus on looking at your fret hand when you practice. It’s ok to look at your pick hand for a week or so but if you continue to look at your pick hand, your chords will always be slow.
You can also play the A5 chord in this position by adding in another A note
A5 chord 5th Fret Position
This next example would be considered a moveable chord. Meaning, you can move the shape up or down the fretboard, and it’s the same fingering.
To play, place your:
- First finger on the sixth string, fifth fret
- Ring finger on the fifth string, 7th fret
- Only strum the 5th and 6th strings
If your fingers don't stretch and you want to use your pinky, you need to support your hand with your thumb, splitting the difference (see video). If you use your pinky, this will paint you into a corner for things to come later.
You can also add your pinky finger to the fourth string, 7th fret.
A5 chord 7th Fret Position
The next example is the same fingering, just in a different place on your fretboard. To play, place your:
- First finger on the fourth string, 7th fret
- Third finger on the third string, 9th fret
Just like last time, you can add in your pinky to add a bit more top end and range to the chord. However, due to how the guitar is tuned in this position, you'll need to add it to the second string, 10th fret.
Notice all these power chords are in the root position (the A note is the lowest sound). Memorize these notes and file them away in your brain. Learning the notes on your fretboard will make everything much easier as you continue on your guitar journey.
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A5 Guitar Chord Theory
Now, let’s break down the theory of the A5 chord so you can better understand how it's constructed and what's going on under the hood.
The A5 guitar chord is built from the A major scale: A B C# D E F# G#
To understand the chord formula, you need to understand "scale degrees," which is simply numbering the notes of a scale starting with the root note.
Often, music teachers reference the piano due to the simplicity of the layout for scales, but I think the illustration below will do:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A B C# D E F# G#
The A5 Chord is Neither Major Nor Minor
In music theory, the 3rd scale degree determines if a chord is major or minor, and because the 3rd scale degree is not part of this chord's formula, it's simply not a major nor minor chord.
If you've read my breakdown of the A major chord, you'd know that an A chord uses notes A C# E, which are chord tones 1 3 5 notes of the scale. To create an A5 chord, all we need is the 1 and the 5 (hence where the number five comes from), which are notes A and E.
Also, if you've checked out my breakdown of the A minor chord, you'll know that an Am chord uses notes A C E. Notice anything? The A5 chord is neither major nor minor but part of both!
Using the Power Chords
As power chords sound strong, they are used extensively in rock and heavy metal but are found in all types of music.
Because only two notes are used to make this chord, it’s much easier for soloing due to their versatility, and they reduce clutter when using distortion. You'll also find them used for the big chorus in pop songs.
Now you know a few ways to play the A5 chord and understand some A5 chord theory!
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