About the E5 chord
A power chord is just the root and the fifth, with no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It is the backbone of rock and punk rhythm guitar and sounds huge with distortion. The symbol for it is E5.
How to play E5
- Lay your index finger flat across the top 5 strings at fret 2, pressing just behind the fret.
- Strum and let the low E string ring open, and don't play the G and B and high E strings.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Chords in the key of E major
These are the chords built on each note of the E major scale, so they all sound good together with E5. The Roman numeral under each one is its position in the key.
Other E chords
E5 chord questions
What notes are in a E5 chord?
E5 is made of E and B. In intervals that is 1, 5 above the root, E.
What is the easiest way to play E5?
The first shape above is the most common one: 0 2 2 x x x from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is E5 a barre chord?
The main shape uses a barre, where one finger holds down several strings at once. Press just behind the fret and roll the finger slightly onto its side.