A5 Guitar Chords Explained | A Powerchord
Welcome to our tutorial on the A 5 chord, a fundamental member of the power chord family. Power chords are distinctive for their composition, consisting only of the Root and the Fifth notes. In the case of the A 5 chord, these notes are A and E. The simplicity of this chord structure makes it a staple in rock, punk, and heavy music, particularly when played on an electric guitar with a bit of distortion. For more information on the role of power chords in these genres, you might want to check out our power chords tutorial.
The intervals that build the A 5 chord are 1 (Root) and 5 (Perfect Fifth). Understanding these intervals is crucial to mastering the fretboard and building chords. If you're interested in delving deeper into this topic, we recommend our guitar music theory tutorial that covers how to build chords by stacking intervals. You might also find our fretboard intervals tutorial helpful.
In this tutorial, we will guide you through how to play the A 5 chord with detailed chord diagrams and fretboard patterns that show the tones composing the chord. If you're not familiar with how to denote chords depending on the intervals that compose it, our chord notation tutorial can be a valuable resource.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced guitarist looking to expand your repertoire, understanding the A 5 chord is a valuable skill. We hope this tutorial helps you master this fundamental chord and enriches your guitar playing experience.
Notes that compose the A 5 chord:
Chord formula for the Powerchord chord:
A Powerchord Guitar Chord Diagrams
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Open
Position 2
Movable
Position 3
Movable
Position 4
Movable
Position 5
Movable
Position 6
Movable
Position 7
Movable
Position 8
Movable
Position 9
Barre
Movable
Position 10
Open
Position 11
Barre
Open
Position 12
Barre
Movable
Position 13
Barre
Open
Position 14
Barre
Open
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
prefer a printable pdf, download
the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf
FAQ
What defines the A5 chord as a 'power chord' compared to other chord types?
The A5 chord is classified as a 'power chord' because it uniquely consists of only two distinct notes: the Root (A) and the Perfect Fifth (E). Unlike major or minor chords, it intentionally omits the third note, which contributes to its strong, stable, and harmonically ambiguous sound.
Why is the A5 chord (and other power chords) frequently used in rock and heavy music?
The A5 chord's simple two-note structure (Root and Fifth) makes it sound very stable and powerful, especially when played with distortion on an electric guitar. The absence of a third note helps avoid muddy or clashing sounds that can occur with full chords when distorted, providing a clear, driving foundation common in rock, punk, and heavy genres.
What specific notes make up the A5 power chord?
The A5 power chord is composed of the notes A and E. The A note serves as the Root (1st interval), and the E note is the Perfect Fifth (5th interval) above the A.
How do the intervals '1' (Root) and '5' (Perfect Fifth) relate to playing the A5 chord?
The intervals '1' and '5' define the structure of the A5 chord. '1' represents the root note, A, and '5' represents the Perfect Fifth above that root, which is E. When you play the A5 chord on the guitar, you are physically locating and sounding these two specific interval relationships on the fretboard.