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power chords

Guitar Power Chords Tutorial

Power chords are not really chords. No, really. Hear me out.

Chords are 3 notes or more, whereas power chords only have 2 different notes. A more correct name would be “power intervals” because they only contain two different notes. Usually power chords are composed of the root, a perfect 5th interval, and the root note doubled at a higher pitch (called an octave). Basically they are just like playing perfect 5th intervals and doubling up a note or two.Read More »Guitar Power Chords Tutorial

Add That “Swing” With The Common Shuffle Rhythm

Triplets are used in many styles of music including blues, rock and country. The basic shuffle rhythm is created by leaving out (resting) the middle note of each three-note triplet group. This “triplet” idea allows performers to include triplets in the melody without clashing with any rhythm patterns.

Many shuffle rhythm songs are in 12/8 time (sometimes called “swing time”) which is just like 4/4 time except with a “swing”. Here we’ll take a look at a common blues shuffle rhythm in the key of A using power chord shapes.

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Country Road by James Taylor

Difficulty: Intermediate

Drop D Tuning

This song is in drop D tuning. In drop D tuning the low E string is tuned down one whole step to D. To tune your guitar to drop D tuning, first make sure your tuned to standard tuning. Then you’ll want to tune your low E string down two steps to D (we drop it down one step, hence the name).

Read More »Country Road by James Taylor