Ultimate List of Power Chord Songs
I could not believe it. Normally, you can find anything you need with a couple Google searches, but after looking for HOURS I couldn’t find a decent resource on power chords!
In my opinion, power chords are the most important thing to learn when you’re learning to play guitar. Why? It’s simple really. In order to stick with guitar lessons, you need to see progress quickly. If you’re not playing something that actually sounds like a song you probably won’t be interested in playing for too long.
Don’t get me wrong, all kinds of guitar skills are important. Depending what your goals are, you’ll probably need to learn notes, scales, chords and all kinds of other guitar goodness. BUT, there are three reasons why power chords are essential.
First, they allow anyone to start playing almost immediately. Even people who have never played guitar can be playing within hours. When I say playing, I mean actually playing songs. Current songs. Popular songs. Classic songs. You name it. There are songs from just about any era or genre that can be played with power chords. Which brings me to point 2…
There are hundreds, possibly thousands of songs than can be played if you understand the power chord basics. Know power chords and you can either pick up the songs you want by finding the power chord tablature (written forms of the music that show the frets to be played on each string rather than standard music notation – see “What’s a power chord?” below for an example) or, you’ll probably be able to pick them up by ear. Once you play power chords a bit, you’ll start to notice songs that most likely use them.
Finally, power chords will get you playing fast. No matter how far you want to take your guitar lessons, it’s always important to be able to play something that actually sounds familiar. It’s fun. Keeping your practice fun by mixing in power chord songs along with your other skills training will keep you motivated to play longer and more often so all your skills will improve.
What’s a power chord?
Power chords are played with 2 or sometimes 3 strings on the guitar. It’s usually on an electric guitar with a bit of distortion, but they can also be played on an acoustic guitar. The typical finger placement is to skip one fret between the strings being played. Here is the tablature showing the finger placement for some common power chords, the notes in () are optional:
____G5___A5__D5___E5__G5__A5___D5__A5_
E||———————————————-(10)—(5)—-|
B||——————————–(8)—-(10)—-10—–5—–|
G||——————(7)—-(9)—–7——9——7——2—–|
D||—-(5)—-(7)—–7——9——5——7——————-|
A||—–5——7——5——7———————————|
E||—–3——5———————————————–|
You won’t believe what you can do with power chords. Some bands played almost exclusively with power chords and there are tons of songs you can play.
This page will be used to start capturing a list of the songs and chords and/or video lessons. If you have suggestions, please leave a comment or send me an email.
Also, be sure to check out the video lesson on power chord basics.
There are THOUSANDS of songs that use just power chords (or at least mostly power chords). Help us build the ultimate list of power chord songs by posting yours here. Ideally leave the chords to use, a TAB or a link to the TAB or a video.
Need something to kick it off? Search for songs by Nirvana, Blink 182, Green Day, AC/DC, Metallica, The Scorpions, Bloodhound Gang, The Cars, Pat Benetar, or Sum 41. I’ll add some to kick it off.
Pat Benetar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Blink 182 – All The Small Things
Louie Louie – see, you can play power chords on an acoustic!
Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit
Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane
Green Day – When September Ends
Green Day – Holiday (power chords from Asia, thank you!)
The Cars – Just What I Needed
Green Day – American Idiot
Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
Jack Johnson – Better Together
You Really Got Me – The Kinks (covered by Van Halen)
Basketcase – Green Day
This is exactly and i mean EXACTLY the site i’ve been looking for. You’ve made me pick up my guitar again =D
i love you!! i love you!!!!
seriously!!! i love ya all!!!
thanks a ton for uploadin this!
First comment said it! Thanks a lot man!
Dude! Thank you so much! I understand now
Power Chords Rock Dude! Awesome Site. Space Monkey + Placebo + Power Chords = Choon.
A couple of good ones are
– “I wanna be your dog” – The Stooges (Iggy Pop)
– “Blitzkrieg Bop” – Ramones
The Stooges one has an awesome filthy riff. The Ramones one is way too fast for me at full speed, but it’s fun slowed down anyway.
Great site. Wish there were more songs though…
Hey!!! this site ROCKS!!! Thanks Alot!!! it got me to pick up my Guitar again!!!!!!!!!!!!
and hey Mr Toobs…what Placebo Songs use just power chrods??? i love Placebo!
Thanks alot I love playing all these songs especially american idiot and rock me like a hurricane! Love ur site!!!!
Awesome!
I am a total n00be guitar player, and power chords make me feel like a rock star!
Thank you sooo much for putting this list of videos together!