Power Chords And Punk Bands: All Bad?

Warning: if you don't want to read another article about power chords, please just leave. I don't want people to be moaning about how they wasted thirty-seven seconds of their life because they chose (and I mean chose - not forced) to read this article. Also, I use a bunch of examples, and recapitulate a lot. The examples are general and represent a typified version of what they represent. If you don't like this, or my reiteration, please just read a different article.

All right, I've heard it many times over. Power chords suck, and anyone who plays them should jump off a cliff and die. Is that necessarily true? Can bands or guitarists that play power chords be good musicians? That conundrum echoes in probably fifteen-plus (And don't hold me to it; I'm exaggerating) articles and lessons and posts all over this site. I'll try my best to give my (subjective - sorry) opinion of the topic.

Everywhere, you see power chords. You might play them. I learned how to play guitar off power chord songs. However, power chords can be good. You can make a great riff (or a mess of screeching drivel) out of several power chords. Does it really matter if music is hard to play? It really /should/ matter if the music sounds good to you. An (objective) example. Rap. I personally don't like rap; but what about all the "gangsta" kids walking about school reeling off 50 Cent. You don't have to like it, but people do. The same is true of power chords.

And you can't condemn a band for using power chords. Give me a break; they are a root-fifth chord - a chord like any other. Give me a rock band, and 80% of the time, you could say that they have used power chords. Nirvana depended on them; not many people can condemn Nirvana to absolute suckdom. Kurt Cobain might not have been the best guitarist ever, but not many people (and I mean not many) can say that Nirvana was a noise polluting waste-of-oxygen. The main argument of the metal vs. punk altercation is that punk bands use power chords. Metal does too. Not all metal - I'm not trying to be superlative here - but a lot of metal does. "Sum 41 sucks, they use power chords! Metallica rules, they solo!" If only I could kill whoever posts that on every article. Metallica uses power chords too!

Often said is that punk sucks because they use tons of power chords. Yeah, they can become boring with their unoriginality, but that is just how they play. It can reflect upon the skill upon the guitarist. If you can't learn how to play barre chords, then okay. That's how you play. If people like your music, all right. If they don't - too bad.

It's cool if you can solo. But if you can make a good riff out of whatever chord, you deserve respect. I'm going to get yelled at for this, but music is about opinion, and there's nothing that anyone can do about it. You can say, "Sum 41 sucks, they use power chords! Metallica rules, they solo!" all you want, but it will never be true. It will be, like any other similar "statement", an opinion. Too many people write off power-chord using bands and genres. Just give it a break. If you don't like punk because they use power chords, don't listen to them. Same goes if you don't like Metallica because they squeal out solos and wear black. And dare I say, if you don't like 50 Cent because he raps about being shot, don't listen to him either. Just don't whine about it.

Comments

[conan troutman]

Finally someone who says something objective!
When I play guitar in my band, sometimes i use power chords, sometimes i use more complex chords. the reason for this is that when you play more complex chords with loads of distortion on them they tend to sound a bit muddy - power chords sound much more defined when distorted. when i play with acleaner sound, i love to use chords with 7ths and 9ths and so on - its all about context.
As for solos, when peopl name the great rock guitarists, its usually Hendrix, Page, Clapton, May etc. Note how these guitarists are not just known for their soloing but for the excellent songs they are connected with! This is why Yngwie Malmsteen comes so far down the list - good solo but where's the song?

[mattman9909]

2nd. i agree with you dude.

[Bluey]

its not that they diss them for using power chords, its that they get get dissed for using nothing BUT power chords. I agree, yes if it sounds good so what, but the amount of crap that sounds the same coming out lately is all because bands just don't no any other chords besides power chords and have no knowledge of music theory.

[boxcarblink41]

all bands, or at least 80% of bands have or do use power chords.

[JPK]

Regular chords just wouldn't do for a lot of rock songs, power chords give them well... power! I don't like the bands you've used as examples but songs like Back in Black are fantastic, power chords with a little extra added on. Using powerchords doesn't mean you can't be a bit original about it

[Define_"punk"]

Congradulations on an excellent article, A+!!

[Define_"punk"]

* congratulations.....shut up im asian

[abass]

god job. punk rocks!

[Metalhead_04]

Punk is good!

[GuiTarPlaYnPunK]

great job!

[n_punx]

good article!

[green_man_gr]

power chords are an awesome thing(of course as long as you don't use em all the time).
great article dude
your'e totally right.

[Wasp]

Yep, good job writing the article. It's true.

Good Job man.

But there's still people who drive the arguement "Metallica may play power-chords, bu they play them BETTER and FASTER".

Bullshit.
First of all, to add something about dum41, they DO solo. Especially in concert. Theere were some great tapping/sliding/teeth playing solos when i saw them.

And second of all, if you can only like a band because it bears a guitar legend, then you're retarted. If you have kids, send them away to an orphanage, because if you teach them to only respect guitar masters, than eventually, they're all going to be dead, and eventually, you'll be listening to the same few records of their bands over and over and over, because YOU WONT HAVE ANY NEW MUSIC TO LISTEN TO. My point is, break out of your "coolness", and start liking and respecting some GOOD new bands, which can be found almost around every corner. If you can't possibly like any newer music, then there's a very big chance that you're only pretending to like music to make you cool.
Loser.

[Shortys99887]

nice job man

[travel sized]

Awesome artical. I expected to read this and hear all the same 'power chords suck. punk sucks for using them." very nice change. And you're right, if the music sounds good to you, listen, like it, and play it. if you don't like it, just dont talk about it or listen to it. good job. i did not just waste 37 seconds of my life.

[West]

There are no new good punk bands anymore. Out of all the punk rock songs I've heard they are leeching the power chord thing off of earlier guys, not to mention the lyrics! Old punk > new punk rock posers.

[AngusYoung4ever]

i thought this article was really bad, no offense. You throw in some impressive words but it doesnt really seem like you know what they mean. Your argument is too centered on the chords themselves and doesnt really delve into context or muscicianship. Pete Townsend used powerchords in all of The Who's songs that he wrote. He also was a very impressive soloist. It's not what chords you use or don't use, it's how you choose to work them into your composition. The Who worked extremely well because it was a basic rock blend of heavy hitting powerchords offset by the more mellow accoustic barre chords. Listen to "Pinball Wizzard". Electric guitar pounds down powerchords over the more complex barring rhythimc pattern of the accoustic. The result of the blending is something very unique and special. This is not to say that all bands that use such chords deserve to be commended however. A lot of punk bands just hammer out basicl chord progressions and screech nonsensicle dribble. Wow, I could do that too, so could anyone with even three fingers and a guitar. No offense, but your article failed to address anything really important, and was just a repeat of the various other articles of this sort. (and yes, i read your disclaimer so i am aware that i had been warned, all im saying is why put out an article that has THE SAME CONTENT as about 4 other ones that i've read in the past? It's just a waste of space.

[WeezedRocker]

I totally agree with Bluey

[will102387]

Good arguments. Just because a band uses all power chords doesn't necessarily mean they know no theory. They just chose to play that way. Some bands think that solos are boring so they don't choose to put them in their music.

[West]

AngusYoung4ever wins.

[civildp1]

The people that hate power chords are just stupid metal-heads that spend all their time talking about how great ride the lightning is and can't get out of 1985

[ima_wannaB_punk]

rad

[anti-goth]

awesome!i like metallica and sum 41.but generally i dont know the difference between a power chord and a regular chord.

[CasualtiesArmy]

Good arguments. Just because a band uses all power chords doesn't necessarily mean they know no theory. They just chose to play that way. Some bands think that solos are boring so they don't choose to put them in their music.

yea i totally agree. the way someone writes music and plays doesnt mean thats the full extension of their playing. I myself play alot of punk and othe stuff using all power chords but I can also play metal. I just choose punk. not that anyone cares...but do they ever?

[wonderboy47]

Good article. Just because power chords are easy doesn't mean they shouldn't be used. In most cases, anyone who dislikes the use of power chords has a favorite song in which they're used.

I wasn't aware that Pete Townsend was an impressive soloist... Are there any songs, AngusYoung4ever, that display his soloing skills?

[offspring_punk]

Hey man Punk is the best kind of music out there. So what power chords are simple but they rock. Does it really matter? I mean almost every guitarist uses power chords. You can make em sound so different with different types of distortion. They're awesome. Almost every song contains power chords. LONG LIVE PUNK!!! :30

[Troy Simple]

If you are in a band and are composing songs, you will use power chords. Everyone does. Since the beginning of time (or guitars) power chords have been used. Power Chords are just as much apart of Rock and Roll and probably even more important to it then your average 2 minute long solo. Great article.

[gregmccormick]

i like to use scales and shit instead of power chords

[gregmccormick]

but even though i say that i still use some powerchords in the songs i write, i just dont strum them, i pick them

[MrCl34n]

another thing about metallica with their great guitarists..they are good, and alot of times they are just playing 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 on the E string...its not what your are playing that decides if you are a good guitarist...*sigh*

[hobo8917]

good article

[BibaLin]

Yea great article, Unregistered (insert name here). I think power chords are the easiest piece of crap ever. But they stil gotta count and stuff and all tht crap. And also, if a band curses. It takes skil off. It makes lyrics lacky and crap. and that guy was just playin the e simultaniously. And linkin park plays Open over and over again. But you can break that up and its just a D5 chord. So what. they are still the goodest.

[BibaLin]

So what the hel if u can forking solo. Your just a goodas s showoff

[BibaLin]

its great to use powerchords. its adds a little bit of strongness. and rockness. but its also good to use a little spice. its good to use them but not good to use only them all linkin park needs is some crazyas s fast harmonics. like papa roach. they are mostly powerchords but they've got this guy who plays the cool part. which i can play really well. And Storyoftheyear uses mostly powerchords but they've got this guy to play the really fast harmonics too. And hes good. He can play face down on the flor and jump up while doing so while beating up some guy and
and runing in circles, and i can do that while eating a bagel which takes REAL REAL REAl skill.

[BibaLin]

Using powerchords is a privelidge. if u overuse them, u lose them. Like your girlfried. Not really but. Your really gonna wish u had them back. Their so terribley eassiy to play

[evilville]

i use simple chords in the verses of the songs i write(G,E,A,C,etc.), but when i get to the chorus part i bust into the power chords, and i solo sometimes...

[birdman]

It's not the chords, it's how you play them. I'm not a big user of power chords, but if you use them and make them sound good then more power to you, but if they are all you use, then you probably suck, or are some shitty punk rocker

[Man Made Errer]

Eh, that was an okay article. You had some good points, but in general it was an average article. Nice work.

[BlueViper1998]

amen

[GrungeMetalFan]

great article, I agree completely

[bigballz4u]

*moan* power chords suck and anyone who plays them shood jump off a cliff and die...

[deadkenedy]

this is a good article. This is an article with the fewest people bagging it, probably because it is really good.

[rocket_queen888]

hey good article.
You legend!
Im guessing anyway
I didn't bother reading it because it was too long.

[LastRockShow]

wow, i was gonna write an article like this actually...but you pretty much nailed every point i was gonna make better than i did, awesome job!

[UseYourBrain]

Yeah good job. Yeah actually, Sum 41 has some good solos. Nothing compared to kirk hammet, but they do the trick.

[strangly-dim]

"You don't have to like it, but people do."
Dude, you have spoken for about 99.9 percent of all unsigned bands world wide. Music is opinionated, that is why there are so many genres, if Billy-Bob
"I screw my goat" Smith from Arkansas doesn't like your punk power chords a kid picking his first guitar will. Great article man.

[billiejoe_dirnt]

this article f*cking rules!!

[billiejoe_dirnt]

civildp1:
The people that hate power chords are just stupid metal-heads that spend all their time talking about how great ride the lightning is and can't get out of 1985

you sir are an asshole. you know absolutley nothing about metal. go listen to blink 182 faggot

[182degrees]

blink 182 kick ass. tom delonge is a god

[wasted guitarst]

power chords are fine but not exclusively good charlotte at least have a small melody

[Oswald]

I think that people wine about bands using power chords and NEVER make a good solo.
METALLICA does use power chords, BUT they also make great solos.

[titanguy3]

sum 41 solos, in too deep. WHAT I HATE IS BANDS THAT GROW UP ON METALLICA BUT PLAY NOTHING SIMILAR TO THEM

[Defiance]

what a waste of 37 seconds of my life

[undead_bunny]

pretty good article

[swansongs]

Power chords can be used, but bands shouldn't build entire albums around power chords.If you are going to use power cords at least back them up with a good solo or something (which many new bands do not do.) If you are just going to throw some riff together with a power chord, which is very easy to do, spend some time and effort on makin a good solo.

[(sic) Breed]

Punk sucks, Powerchords dont!! Tony Iommi and the metallica guitarists, they used powerchords!!

[madguitarist31]

Does it really matter how easy it is to play something? Isn't how it sounds more important? You could play all the notes on the guitar in 1 second and you would be an amazing guitarist but it wouldnt sound any good. Or you could be able to play a chord which involves stretching your fingers over 8 frets when a normal A chord would sound just as good. If a song sounds really good and you enjoy listening to it, does it really matter if it is really easy to play? Anyway its really up to you what music you like, whether you like punk or metal or rap or whatever music, but you shouldnt really criticise a song just because its easy to play.

[AngusYoung4ever]

In Bargain, wonderboy47, Pete Townsend plays really interesting fills in between the verses. Also in songs like Join Together and Who Are You.

[`NeXxuS`]

the writer of this article is SOOOO WRONG.... metal bands dont use power chords unless its for a power riff... something where the power chord gets slid around all over the place... punk bands do that gay E5x8 C5x8 G5x8.... like *** off and move your hands.... secondly... yes it does matter how hard the music is to play!!! at least if u want the respect of fellow musicians... and by musicians i exclude people like the writer of this article, because he obviously has no clue about what it is to be an artist... if u wanna copy every other punk band... go right the *** ahead... ill be over here drinking my face off with my metal band.

[jeeba jaba]

power chords are good, people say they hate punk because it just does power chords over and over again, but then what about metal doing the same basic scale exercise things over and over again going meedly meedly meedly meedly neneenenene NEE! thats the same concept just a different thing not to mention all metal bands have double pedal bass drums which some could think is annoying as well so its all the same concept just different things

[XxOverkillxX]

I was going to post a comment. But then it was longer then the article itself. So it told me "Error: Stop spamming! You comment was not posted". Notice it says you comment instead of your comment. Kinda funny...

[eplp22]

but the comment about 80% of bands have and do use power chords is true. Good creative bands use power chords too, like A Perfect Circle. They are extremely creative with lyrics and the comosition of the music but they use power chords. So whatever power chords are cool if you mix them up and dont play the same 3 power chords the whole song.

[eplp22]

comPosition* sorry

[`NeXxuS`]

^yes true they do use powerchords but they dont treat them as real chords they treat them as a part of a melody... not like punk bands which hold the same powerchord and go through the same powerchords over and over and over again.

[zakk_wylde4]

It's okay to play power chords, just not all repeated 8th notes only switching every 5 seconds. Tony Iommi used power chords, but not so simultaneously, every band did, metallica did a lot, ever heard leper messiah?

[coolguy]

id just like to tell you all that this guy is right, because powerchords are cool.

[punx_87]

I THINK IT REALLY GOOD ARTICLE

[punksnafu]

thank you for your article! it's about time somebody shuts all those f ucks up and makes them realize power chords are also used by choice! They offer a way stronger sound, which is most often wanted! also, the most skilled guitarists i know choose power chords, even though they can also use regular chords (which \they do at times as well) - power chords are what fit in the music, and playing "different" chords would only WRECK the sound the player is going for...so STFU all you idiots who are "against" this "evil" on guitar!

and for those "unskilled" musicians who play them...well we've all gotta start out somewhere don't we??

[punksnafu]

and by the way NEXXUS - which punk guitarist ever wanted to be called the best metal respected guitarist in the universe? FUUCK OFF DUDE

[ramlax13]

great article, i totally agree, power chords for life!!!!!!!!

[sumfartieone]

nirvana used barre chords also

[sumfartieone]

***bar

[the_beastly_one]

This article has been done before, but anyway, some of the greatest riffs ever are made of power chords, did anyone give a shit then? No, they didn't. All this comes from bastardised punk bands' overuse of this tool. I have no objections to my own or anyone else's use (or overuse) of power chords in music if it sounds good. Just play whatever seems right and it should work out, we can't sit here and argue about it forever dudes.

[futurelegend546]

this has been said a ***ing 100000000000000 times its not what chords/notes/pineapples u use. Its how u use em

[bigrd15132]

I play in a "punk" band...we got our start covering Blink 182 and Green Day. Our singer was terrible, but no one cared because we were "punk." Forget that...so many local bands have 2nd rate musicians and 3rd rate singers. It drives me insane. Really, I don't have anything relevant to say.

[bigrd15132]

Oh, and most "metal" bands do play power chords, they just play them in drop D style tunings. One finger barre chords. Makes me sick, but still sounds good. Also, I think chord progressions are not the problem with most modern rock songs. It's the basslines. Stop playing roots...all of you!

[`NeXxuS`]

^thats nu-metal mostly... and to punksnafu... kid you obviously have little theoretical knowledge of music... all chords are based around scales, all songs are based on scales... and using the 5th is just a safe way to make a (FAKE) chord fit in. in reality power chords should actually be called r5's or power 5ths.. not chords because a chord needs 3 notes (a traid) to actually be named a chord... any way my point to you punksnafu is that using your theoretical knowledge of music makes your music alot stronger... not weaker... just because the 5ths give it a powerful sound doesnt mean that a 7th wouldnt have fit in better... or a 9th.. or a b5'th... im so ***in sick of the punks...

[Rockstar_450]

metallica also mostly used riffs which involved finger slides on the a and d strings. Sum 41 and blink are called crap because all they use is powerchords. the reason why powerchord heavy users are called sucky is coz a power chord is FIFTH AND A ROOT NOTE! IT CAN BE EITHER MAJOR OR MINOR, and i wouldn't be supprised if some rock bands don't even know if the chord is major or minor in thier song coz they don't know any theory as a result of only using power chords

[Tijmen]

hehe, read a book about how to write an article, dude. But, you're right anyway.

[Oswald]

BUT THE BIG GODDAMN DIFFERENS BETWEEN METAL AND PUNK IS THAT PUNK PLAY POWERCHORDS THROUGH A HOLE SONG WITHOUT PLAYING ANY SOLOS!!!!
Got it?
Cause there are some REALLY stupid people above who wrote: " Metal also uses powerchords!!"
YES!!!!


But they got good fill ins and SOLOS!!!
UNDERSTAND THE BIG DIFFERENS BETWEEN SIMPLE MUSIC LIKE PUNK AND MORE COMPLEX MUSIC LIKE METAL!!!

[Xeno]

Bah this article has been written

[sugar_free87]

why cant you just SHUTT THE FUCK UP....you dont like punk..so just shut up & go home..man get a job or some sort of shit..bla bla bla *** you ...

[trip_simpkins]

Dudes, punk rocks ok, its an expression of feeling just like metal, it just means that the less technical guitarists can play muxic like everybody else.

[BassistMOT831]

Great article! Tell them like it is dude..

[West]

BassistMOT831 is an idiot just like the person who wrote this article. Power chords are fine as long as you don't use them all the damn time. It's like getting email spam.

[sharkeyanti]

i liked a bit of this article, but it seems that people think there is only punk and metal and no one can be happy together. I seem to remember classic rock, jazz, classical, and rockabilly as other styles as well.

In terms of power chords, I would never make an entire song out of them, i like playing lead and rhythm at one time by using fragments of chords and scales and hitting the root or the 3rd at the end of a bar to signify a chord change, its not a difficult concept.

I like old punk, but I agree that punk bands, and even metal bands use far too simple of a rhythm pattern with excessive use of power chords, It's like this: Punk bands only play pwoer chord rhythms with no melody, metal bands play a simple rhythm with fills at the end of every 2nd bar or so, and solo with zero thought outside moving your fingers real fast.

I'm gonna write an article on it now damnit!

[Sir RocksAlot]

DOWN WITH PUNK

[weevilx214]

i agree

[shinkyo00]

these arguments are pointless......no one ever wins

[West]

But I am always right

[strangled]

very good

[purofvio]

the fault with punk bands is that they probably write songs like, ok here we have a bar of C a bar of D then two bars of F (just an exmaple), and they just strum the power chord all the way through. In a metal band, they come up with riffs, that are usually from part of a scale, and dont just involve strumming the same power chord, and include different ones, to form the "riff" that fits the key of the song. Im trying to briefly explain this concept, and i dont think too well, but most people forget it. Im talking generally here because there are exceptions, but this is true if you compare "All the Small Things" by Blink 182 to "Bring Your daughter to the Slaughter" by Iron Maiden. Just an example. All im saying is that PUNK and METAL just have a different songwriting style that is more than just absense of solos or use of power chord. You cant have rock/metal/punk without them it that simple. But you punk people, admit it, it takes a hell of a lot more skill to play stuff by slayer than Sum 41, and being a keen guitarist, i like to listen to music that makes me just want to pick up a guitar and shred it to pieces. 99% of punk doesnt do that for me.

[scumfuc_69]

good article
even though punk is my fave, there are some punk
bands who hardly use power chords.
^^^Slayer's riffs are awesome, I like them too, but
their solos are horrible, it sounds like they're trying to see how fast they can plays instead of trying
to play something musical.

[Ralph]

punk is a great gift for the dudes and dudettes who really want to play in a band, but aren't the second hendrix, clapton, hammet whatever. And eventually, some of those kids become great guitar players. And other become very creative song writers, so what that they only play power chords, it is about the result, not the means.

BTW, it's easier to jump around, freak out, make tripple flick-flacks, and singing while playing easier chords, punk is way more fun that way instead of concentrating, not moving an inch except your fingers playing the guitar.

PS If I made some screw-ups in the spelling, it's cause i'm dutch :P

[Mid-Day]

SUM 41 ROCKS! AND THEY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SOLOS! Thank You very much!

[tr4c3r]

People are just going to have to realise that everyone uses power chords. Everyone uses Pentatonic scales. So what. Does it sound good? I'm the first to give credit to a live band that can make power chords sound like deafning melody from hell.

Futhermore punk would have never been without the lyrics. If you look back at what was happening and what the lyrics dictated back in the day and you have a better idea of how it SHOULD have sounded PM me. I love when people try to re-invent the wheel.

So when somebody's complaining about power chord bands it's usually the people that just learned a couple new voicings for their old songs that were completely based on power chords, Someone who is in total denial or (My personal favourite) the guy who used to or doesn't even play in a band or an instrument at all.

[guitarer]

u have a point there. its about how you use power chords, if you use them like adam jones, hammet, cobain then you're a guitar god.

[cam12]

I agree with Ralph. I'd rather have an intense time onstage and have a good time (and still sound good, of course)

[JamesV]

^^....Look at bands like Metallica (again), Megadth, Anthrax, Slayer, Iron Maiden etc - Do they have a good time on stage? Yes they do. Do they enjoy themselves? yes they do. Do they jump around like madmen? well, they used to (you cant expect 40+ year old men to be able to carry on that shit forever. And guess what else? They play complicated arrangements while doing it! Look at Dave Mustaine - I'm still amazed at how he can play the rhythm to Rust in Peace...Polaris and sing at the same time!
And as Ralph said, it's easier to sing, jump around etc while playing simple power 5th. Key word - easier. Thats a main difference between metal and punk. Many metal musicians dedicate their whole lives to their playing (Vai, Becker, Hammett, Rhodes etc), while a punk musician takes the easier path, and can be playing for only a year before starting a band.

[0blue skies0]

yeah, Ralf has it right. Nu-skool Punk we have 2day is about having fun; and it does just that. Great things are when something sets a goal and furfils it. when people hate a particular genre of music... it's usually because they misinterpretate its goal.

led zep - long hair, tight pants - goal was 2 "groove" and radiate an aura of "sexyness". their image is feminine...therfore seductive...therfore sexy. people who like led zep recognise the goal.
u dance & groove to this stuff - not mosh.
i used to hate old metal bands until i realised this.

nu-metal is about moshing. the calm melodic verses are a build up and a "rest" inbetween the thrashy loud bits - where u go crazy. nu-metal aims for energy release & heaviness.

nu-punk is for singing along. pogo-moshing... rather
than full on moshing. laughing & pratting about.
POWER CHORDS make this easy - u dont need to concentrate on technical guitar playing.

there are no crap genres. only good & bad bands.

[0blue skies0]

^^^ punk the genre kicks ass. Anyone check out UNWRITTEN LAW (the album with "california sky" etc.)
and you'll see how "power chords" can be utilised into something amazing, catchy, melodic & beautiful.
seriously check these guys out, before judging the likes of blink 182 or later greenday.. who are good but not awesome.

[TimmyPagePatric]

i've never flamed punk, i think it sounds more simple than metal or blues or other genres, but its still a really cool type of music, and about power chords, sometimes people don't want the full sound of a barre chord on all the strings, especially with distortion.
I totally agree with u mate, great article

[chinko]

Also, I think chord progressions are not the problem with most modern rock songs. It's the basslines. Stop playing roots...all of you!

hey we need to do simple bass lines otherwise it doesnt fit with the song, although if i had the chance i would solo mid song.

who cares powerchords are gud, they mean you can put parts into a song easier, rather than a 1.30 minute long am i evil solo which we ignore cos its just plain showing off. powerchords make music. end of story

[Jerome]

Im not bashing using power chords cuz every great band uses plenty of them, Led Zep, Beatles, Skynyrd, but damn with that punk shit there is just no variety to them. i bet 9 outta 10 punk bands use the same 4 power chords and it gets boring, especially the vocalists voices, they all sound the smae too. Punk wouldnt be bad if there was variety

[SickGirl]

to be honest i dont care if they use power chords or not. if it sounds good then i like it. please if you dont like this band, dont start bashing on them or me. i like good charlotte, and i know they use power chords but to me it sounds good. i have heard tons of live performances from them and been to a few concerts and it sounds awesome. you can tell they play live b/c its so real and sounds nothing like the cd but its good. and ive heard plenty of live accoustic performances by them and they are awesome. they dont miss a single note and i love it. please no one start saying crap like"they rnt punk" or "they suck" b/c trust me they dont. im also in to three days grace and im not really sure if its all power chords but there are some in there but trust me they are really good. ok im done.

[SickGirl]

oh wait im not done yet. some people say that its not cool to use power chords all the time but im gonna just gonna name an example. like good charlotte. they are kind of new and they are trying to improve on their instruments. they arent at their best yet. the guitarist of good charlotte has even said"when i hear some bands that have been around for awhile and i hear the guitar, i feel like a suck, but im trying to improve." i know some bands use powerchords but bare with them b/c most of them are new and arent the best yet. i mean when someone first learns how to play a guitar they arent gonna skip powerchords and start playing the hard stuff. most of the bands i like are younger than the bands that have solos and stuff. like i said it doesnt matter if they use powerchords or not. it depends if YOU like it.


not trying to start anything just being myself and being homest

[SickGirl]

honest***

[SickGirl]

and i like the article it really makes since especially the "You can say, "Sum 41 sucks, they use power chords! Metallica rules, they solo!" all you want, but it will never be true."

[SickGirl]

ok ive just read the WHOLE article. awesome. i agree with every word. who ever wrote this needs to write more b/c too many people just write about what they like and everything else sucks. good job. A+

[SickGirl]

sry i kinda copied the dude up there with the A+ thing. i just had nothing better to put.

[SickGirl]

i agree with wonderboy47 totally b/c powerchords may be easy to play but they sound good. if you hate power chords, you have no life b/c u probably dont give good bands a chance when someone says"they use power chords" about a band uve never listened to and you automatically hate them.

[diablo83]

ramones,bliztkreig bop,3 chords, big hit, nuff said

[diablo83]

people who only rely on soloing, i guess in a way are talented, but the con about that is, the narrow-minded ness. "night train" by guns n roses is probably my fav. song of theirs. its because i love the soloing slash uses and the power chords as well. i turn around and say that "axiom" by rancid is one of my fav. as well. in that song, they use nothing but p.chords. people have to be more open minded.

[TheLonleyGhost]

Regular chords just wouldn't do for a lot of rock songs, power chords give them well... power! I don't like the bands you've used as examples but songs like Back in Black are fantastic, power chords with a little extra added on. Using powerchords doesn't mean you can't be a bit original about it

Ok, Back in black unlike all the wrong tabs IS NOT IN POWER CHORDS ok neither is shook me all night long they are all in open chords thats how acdc got there crunch sound. except for some of the stuff malcom played all the rest was open.
in conclusion, this comment had nothing to do with the article, only ppl who piss me off beacuase they assume acdc is all power chords.
thank you
o, good article!

[gtarguy358]

awesome article....5 stars...finally someone says something intelligent...

[kyzar]

Power Chords are good. I use them in the majority of the songs I have made with my band. Heaps of bands use them but what separates good bands from the bad bands is how the good bands use them. The shitty punk bands just play them fast as hell and try to change to a new chord quicker than the speed of light. They don't know what to do with their guitars and that is why they suck to the max.

Whereas Nirvana, RHCP, Powderfinger and bands like that know what to do with their guitars, strum correctly and create damn good riffs. The sound flows and sounds more professional. That's why it shits me when people say all this punk shit is fully awesome and that those bands are the best in the world. THEY ARE NOWHERE F***ING NEAR.

Good article buddy - well done.

[oniro_mvolta*]

music shouldnt be based on how technical the piece is. fair enough john petrucci is a freak and the only reason alot of people listen to dreamtheatre is for the challenge and the awe. but ***, music can be good if its simple

[SickGirl]

now thats a smart cookie^^^

[lohnlennon]

the song by the beatles i feel fine made a famous riff from power chords. but again they used different stuff in the song.

[Animuswh]

makin a whole song with powerchords might be a lil too borin... but its my opinion... i dont mind havin a lil power chords, but i do prefere not to

[needurskullz]

alot of punk rock doesnt just use power chords. take by chance the casualties and thier new album on the frontline? they are definetly skilled, the virus a famous punk band, the unseen the most famous street punk band out there is really skilled. you just havent listen to some of the right stuff man.

[AC/DC_Rocks_Ang]

gj, i hate punkbands. powerchords are ok for riffs but they SUCK when used over and over and over. if u want a good guitar player, compare randy rhoads to tom delogne or w/e that stupid blink 182 guitar player is.

[grimreaper65]

okay, if you're gonna slam blink 182, go ahead, but there are many many many punk bands that are infinately better, and as many people have said, if you work power chords into your songs they sound clearer and not just as mess of notes and distortion.
As for punk not having any solos, check the solo at the beginning of Avenged Sevenfold ~ Eternal rest

[Yahiko357]

Great article, I love how you didn't just bash any certain category of music and try to shove something else down my throat. I appreciate it.

Yeah I agree with what another commenter said way up at the top somewhere. When you use open chords with distortion like that it makes it sound rather muddy. In almost all cases, if you are using distortion, power chords add a nice bite. I personally save the open fancy chords for acoustics and clean electric or soft distortion.

I'm getting very sick of people judging music by how hard it is to play. Music is not a contest to see who can play the fastest and longest solos and the trickiest chords. Just chill out and enjoy the music, and if you can't, let anyone else who likes whatever they like enjoy it.

[ALLmusicISjazz]

If you wanna hang out you gotta take her out, cocaine.

If you wanna get down, down on the ground, cocaine.

She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie--

Power chords.

[ALLmusicISjazz]

Clapton did nothing but power chords in "Cocaine"...oh and one trilled note, big whoop--no solo in the recorded version either.

[monkeyspks]

titanguy3:
sum 41 solos, in too deep. WHAT I HATE IS BANDS THAT GROW UP ON METALLICA BUT PLAY NOTHING SIMILAR TO THEM

Have you listened to Sum 41's new cd? There's a song on it called The Bitter End which sounds just like Metallica.

Anyway, I loved that article. People should stop judging music by how hard it is to play. Yes, power chords are INCREDIBLY EASY. But hey, so are blues chords, and nobody bashes those. I think people get their hands on whatever mainstream crap that they can and say why you should go back listening to Led Zeppelin. (which, actually, is sometimes true... i mean look at simple plan..)

[monkeyspks]

Have you listened to Sum 41's new cd? There's a song on it called The Bitter End which sounds just like Metallica.

in fact, it basically is metallica with different words.

[bluesrockgod_22]

i agree that yes power chords are essential to rock. like what was stated before many times full chords with 7ths and 9ths sound muddy with lots of distortion. but also like stated before there is using power chords and then there is abusing them. for instance many new mainstream artists very much abuse power chords. i mean seriously do u really think that someone who is playing music that a guitarist of 1 month could play deserves to make money off of it? and if u say they can play more than thats even worse that they are wasting talent on the other crap that they play. finally to the person who said that some people find solos boring and thats why they don't put them into songs.... well yes a solo can be boring but then u have to relize that a REAL guitar solo isn't just a single note progression that is fast or has lots of bends in it. a real guitar solo is a song inside of a song that totally compliments the song so that it is not boring. so that means that those who don't use solos arn't good at making good solos.

[aravind]

BibaLin:
So what the hel if u can forking solo. Your just a goodas s showoff

hey, its not that other people show off, you just suck

[grimsk8er]

someone prolly already wrote this but maybe Nirvana used so much powerchords because Kurt sang and played at the same time and Powerchords are simple to memorise. just how i feel. Angusyoung4ever has it right tho. its how you use the powerchords. Nirvana soloed too and used some other stuff.

[ak Gitaroo Man]

great article!

[AC/DC Dude8]

i LOVED your article. Our band uses power chords alot, and its not cuz were bad, its cuz we like how they sound. of course i can play a bar chord, i just chose not to. and u r rite, its all about opinion MOST of the time. I personaly love Sum 41 and Im not crazy about Metallica.

[AC/DC Dude8]

Oh, and I forgot, screw theory. if it sounds good, it sounds good. end of story.

[Gothic_ed]

all respect to whoever wrote this article. Not only is it true, but its the first one i've read that hasn't had everyone writing about how bad it is and aying the same thing over and over. Well done.

[dna_teh_mna]

well i hate to be the first and only person to mention this, but if you want to get technical, "power chords" arent really chords at all. the definition of a chord is 3 seperate notes played together. power chords are usually a note and that notes 5th, sometimes with an octave of the root note. doesnt make it any less valuable but its really not a chord by any definition. that anonymity of not having a 3rd in the chord so it cant be classifies as major or minor is useful, many folk songs and tunings that date back hundreds of years use it. the first interval in twinkle twinkle little star is a perfect fifth, classical composers used it left and right. you guys are morons for turning this into a discussion of how metallica is better than sum 41 or that nirvana kicks ass. yeah almost every guitar player on the planet uses them, stop spouting off on your own opinion of who sucks and who rocks. start a big retarded metallica vs sum 41 vs metallica thread if thats all you have to talk about

[Rune Playaz]

*bows down* u r god

[nF.L_m]

N.C. .....

[nF.L_m]

How to Form a "CM7" Power chord?

[nF.L_m]

How about ahh..... a F#m7? ...a... Just hello to Abbie Antaran, of SSC-II

[nF.L_m]

And also to the: Whildus Alliance... Sassy... Unicorn 5... To the RIP... To the group of Haniel... and of course.. the Independent--REnz.. How to form a A power chords?

[wangjibbity]

quit ***ing whining and listen to what makes you feel good, or angry, or happy whatever. if you play power chords and diss complicated soloes and awesome scales, then you really don't give a shit about music "at all"

[venusinfurs]

all right fair enough, good argument. music is music, it's how you take it. i listen to the ramones not for their talent, but for the overall feeling of the music. (though i think you need to take a closer look at the punk scene! not all boring, in fact a lot of it was very musically intricate! see pre-1977.)

[Dogwillhunt]

Technically speaking, dna_teh_mna, "Power Chords" are chords. Technically, if you use 2 or more notes in conjunction with one another it is considered a chord. Technically, a power chord is always defined as the root note, a perfect fifth, and then one octave above the root. If you want to get technical, a power chord is a shorthand version of a bar (barre) chord. Technically, if I were you, I'd whip out that old Mel Bay How To Play Guitar book that's been collecting dust and study up on it. If that doesn't help, I suggest looking at some sheet music for any music with one note (melody) played at the same time as another note (harmony) and you will see what I'm talking about. If you want to get technical, that is.

[Dogwillhunt]

If you play an inverted power chord while you got your drive/distortion on it sounds hella chunky. Kinda gives a six string guitar that 7 string sound just from the overtones... and technically it's only two notes, harmony and melody. Technically, it's a chord. I technically needed to add that... technically.

[soankeyman820]

PUNK ALL THE WAY!!!..

[crazygluedmybut]

this is probably the first CORRECT article on punk here! THANK YOU!

[timzs]

power chrds r awesome.. have u heard jesus of surbabia? awesome song.. 10 mins of power chords...

[bedurnk]

Power chords are cool. I just use them for when I do rhythm type stuff for any rock music, or I throw them in as the roots of a complex riff. I don't like it when all a band does is power chord progressions, but that's just because I get bored when I play stuff like that, so I get bored listening to it.

Good article, though.

[Maggot penis]

IF A POWER CHORD PROGRESSION IS GOOD THEN FINE EVEN BANDS THAT AINT ROCK USE POWER CHORDS

[Ringgold]

f*** f*** F***. Your article sucks man. No one said power chords, all bad but I believe lots of people said punk, all bad. Of course there's nothing bad about power chords okay? s***

This is why Yngwie Malmsteen comes so far down the list - good solo but where's the song?

If you said that Beethoven go out from his grave and kick your ass. That what music began man and that what is music. And lyrics is just an add to the music for the mesagge of the song.

[Wykoff_FanClub2]

Woo-Hoo powa chords!!

[angusfenderbend]

sum 41 isnt punk.
agent orange and bad brains are punk.
And they dont use pussy power chords!

[green boy]

Reading all this the only thing i figures is that the people who actualyl enjoy music is em tone deaf dudes who dont kno a power chord from a baree chord..i mean why on earth should u care how its palyed..(it helps to write songs and stuff but)if it sounds great...well great..job well done weather it be power chords they used or barre chords...
and um btw \m/punk ruuuuules\m/

[green boy]

and your artical rules dude.

[notoriousnumber]

It is true that Metallica mainly used power-chords, the great MoP song is 85% power-chords basically, as is most of their other stuff. But IMO they somehow make them work, mainly because they knew alot of theory. Modern bands simply bundle together what they want, and I really dont like it.

Ok, basically I love Metallica and hate all modern music, but you know what I mean.....

[haotehmao]

Punk died along with Johnny Ramone :\

[mikecappa]

Take a band like Nirvana (just about 90% of the time use powerchords) I might be a bit biased seeing is how Nirvana is my favorite band, but every song by Nirvana is melodic in it's own way, and if u can do what Nirvana did with either powerchords, or "anti-solos" or ****in feedback then you have talent know matter what you play. but rock died after Kurt Cobain died with the exeption of few.

[deffox]

sum 41 dont suck cos they use powerchords they suck cos their songs arent any good, thats why nirvana ''got away'' with using powerchords cos their songs were brilliant

[deffox]

well one of the 1st and best punk bands didnt really use (many) powerchords tht band is.... Television, most ''punk'' today bands use powerchords cos peolple will say they arent punk if they dont, ALL punk bands today try too hard to be punk and fail (misiberaly)

[danzig-_-]

best article ever.
well not really, but the idea is great. too many condemn power chords and punk.
thats the style of music i listen to and play. and of course thats gonna rub off on my somewhat. i can solo, i can play with speed, but saying someone sucks because their songs are comprised of mainly power chords is bullshit
great article

[favrefan30]

all i have to say is this.. whoever the idiot was that said avenged sevenfold is punk is a dumb ass and should go die.
avenged sevenfold at the time of Waking The Fallen was a Heavy Metal band with punk influences. they were classified as a metal band.. not punk.
so whoever it was that said that about eternal rest having a guitar solo at the beginning.. and a7x is a punk band.. is a moron. get your facts straight before posting. thank you, *******.

[fender f**kwit]

i dont think ANY band in the world dont use power chords

[fridge_raider]

same, i cant think of a single one in the rock/punk/metal/indie arena.

[DoctrDrew116]

It's not power chords that make me dislike the more poppy bands, it's how they strum them in eighth notes for the whole song and the bass player just pounds out the root note all day. You can still do creative stuff with power chords. But when that's all you do and EVERYTHING in your music is insanely simple it gets so BORING!

[Scylla]

show me a solo that sounds as incredible as a single downstroke of an A-powerchord does with some distortion...

...but everthing can be overdone...

[dnamra13]

go listing to trash metal\M/

[Audiojorge75]

it eventually comes down to the song, if the song needs it than go for it, Nirvana for example have varied and rich songs (in their genre ) and used about 75% powerchords, and i bet you that in that percentage the songs would have lost if powerchords were to be replaced by anything else.

[David34343]

You can keep the song going with power chords after it ends as long as you're familiar with the frets. plus, sum 41 uses power chords the right way

[anti-rap]

AngusYoung4ever wrote:

i thought this article was really bad, no offense. You throw in some impressive words but it doesnt really seem like you know what they mean. Your argument is too centered on the chords themselves and doesnt really delve into context or muscicianship. Pete Townsend used powerchords in all of The Who's songs that he wrote. He also was a very impressive soloist. It's not what chords you use or don't use, it's how you choose to work them into your composition. The Who worked extremely well because it was a basic rock blend of heavy hitting powerchords offset by the more mellow accoustic barre chords. Listen to "Pinball Wizzard". Electric guitar pounds down powerchords over the more complex barring rhythimc pattern of the accoustic. The result of the blending is something very unique and special. This is not to say that all bands that use such chords deserve to be commended however. A lot of punk bands just hammer out basicl chord progressions and screech nonsensicle dribble. Wow, I could do that too, so could anyone with even three fingers and a guitar. No offense, but your article failed to address anything really important, and was just a repeat of the various other articles of this sort. (and yes, i read your disclaimer so i am aware that i had been warned, all im saying is why put out an article that has THE SAME CONTENT as about 4 other ones that i've read in the past? It's just a waste of space.

You submit very long reviews

[SkAsupafly]

i like sum 41 and metallica...

[Zackmo92]

Pretty good, it made a lot of sense. I'm probably gonna get yelled at