A5 Power Chord
5th Fret · E-String RootThe standard moveable A5, rooted on A at fret 5 of the low E string: index at fret 5, then flatten your ring finger across the A and D strings at fret 7. Deeper than the open shape and the more common choice in rock riffs.
A5 Power Chord
Open PositionOpen A5 (x-0-2-2-x-x): A string open (A), then flatten your index across the D and G strings at fret 2 (E, then A an octave up). Mute the low E and everything above.
A5 Power Chord
Two-Note DyadA and E only — the open A string plus one fretted note. One finger, and one of the easiest chords on the instrument.
One finger is enough
Open A string plus the D string at fret 2 gives you A5. It is often the second power chord a beginner learns, right after E5.
Mute the low E
The open A shape starts on the A string. Let the tip of your fretting index rest against the low E so a wide strum stays clean.
Neither major nor minor
A5 leaves out the C# of A major and the C of A minor. That is why the same chord works in both keys.
Know the E-string version
5-7-7 on the low E, A, and D strings is the same A5 an octave down — heavier, and moveable to any root.
Pair it with E5 and D5
E5, A5, and D5 are the three power chords with open-string roots. Together they cover a great deal of straightforward rock rhythm.
About the A5 Power Chord on Guitar
The A5 power chord is built from two notes: A (the root) and E (the perfect 5th). With no 3rd it is neither major nor minor, which is why it sits happily in an A major progression and an A minor one alike. A is one of only three roots with a true open power chord in standard tuning — the open A string is the root, with the 5th and octave fretted above it — and the two-note version needs a single finger, making A5 one of the first chords a beginner can play cleanly and in time. The moveable low-E form at fret 5 gives the same chord an octave lower and considerably more weight. This page covers three voicings. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 A5 power chord shapes from beginner to intermediate
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Moveable E-string form plus the open A-string root and two-note dyad
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 2 notes that form the A Power chord and their role in the major scale.
Every power chord follows this same formula — root and perfect fifth, with no 3rd. Two notes, so it is neither major nor minor.