when playing guitar, how do you play powerchords? i'm self taught, so i never really learned how to play.?

If you can play a bar chord then you can play a power chord. A power chord is simply the lowest two strings of a bar chord. These are the root and 5th of the chord which is why power chords are often written as A5, D5, E5, etc. Use your index to play the root and your ring finger to play the 5th (1 string and 2frets higher)

2 Versions of powerchords... simplified and full. Both are commonly used in anything from punkrock to metal. If you play either of these types of music, you will be very familiar with them. The beauty of the powerchord is that is gives a very full sound anywhere on the fretboard without changing fingering (discounting that pesky B string). The native structure of a powerchord means they will fit in any key without dissonance.

Simplified: Root note and the fifth of that note. Index finger frets the root and ring finger (or pinkie) frets the next higher string two frets up from your first finger.

Full: Just like simplified, but add the next string up on the same fret as that 5th note. This note will be the octave of the root, and 'fill out' the sound more fully.

Yes, these are simplifications of barre chords, so you already know how. Your fingers will retain that box shape, enabling you to do the popular guitar trick of flipping everyone the bird while you play.

Just like everyone here has said... the shape will follow anywhere on the fretboard (alter for that pesky B string)... 1,3,3

or 5,7,7

or 4,6,6

or whatever! Anywhere! Just make sure that as you move up the scale, you account for that darn B string.

They are pretty much an easier version of barre chords, you just play the top three strings like a barre chord and mute the rest example----133xxx for a first fret (F) power chord, you can also play them anywhere on the A (6th string) for example x133xx for 1st fret A string (A# power chord)

So for example if you wanted to play a power chord on the A string (5th) at the 3rd fret you would play x355xx, that means where ever you start the power chord you play the two strings below it two frets down.

Look upi some Nirvana tabs for plenty of examples.

basically, you put your first finger on the e or a string, and your third finger on the next string up two frets later. kind of like you're making a barre chord, but only the first two strings of it :)

so if you do 1st fret e, 3rd fret a, it's an f power chord

i probably did a horrible job explaining that lol