The Music Theory of POWER CHORDS

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Powerchords are the building block of rock and metal. They get a bad rap for being simplistic, but the reality is that their simplicity gives them unparalleled versatility- the ability to accommodate both major AND minor tonalities instead of being limited to just one.
Applying this ambiguity just requries a little bit of knowledge about scales and fifths, as well as the chords in a key. This video will go over the music theory of powerchords and how they fit into your scale concepts, as well as general ideas and applications of power chords and their variations.
Related theory videos-
Chords in minor: • How to write Chords an...
Diminished: • Deconstructing Diminis...
Metallica Scale: • How To Write Metal Rif...
I can not thank my Patreon subscribers enough for supporting this channel and enabling these videos, especially with the increase in KZbin copyright bots claiming my videos. A personal
Shout out to the following fine folks-
Linas Orentas
Marek Pawlowski
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Patrick Ryan
Free online guitar lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Located in Crystal Lake, Jake Lizzio provides free jam tracks and video lessons for guitar players, as well as music theory videos and other music education content.
Table of Contents:
00:00 Intro
00:25 Powerchords
01:28 Is It A Chord?
02:31 Substituting Chords
03:27 Big Notes
04:32 Inverted Powerchords
06:27 Converting Scales
10:35 Applying Chord Implications
13:49 Wrapping Up

[@LyricalLull]

I really hate to be pedantic but at 1:30 you talk about how a G and D when played together are not a chord. They are indeed a chord. Playing more than one note at the same time is by definition, a chord. G and D are not a triad, they are a dyad; but still a chord. 2 notes is a dyad, 3 a triad, 4 a tetrad, 5 a pentad, etc.

[@Impzhahaha]

I personally have lost track of what everyone believes in regards to this, the Theory teacher would tell you two notes together are just an interval instead of a chord

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Yep you're right- I've been yelled at by internet theorists for trying to name dyads ("they're just intervals") and my first theory book taught that chords = 3 notes so I've always clung to that interpretation. To be honest I find it a silly definition- I don't know any chord names for 2-note chords that don't reference a triad or interval, so it seems that "chords" all depend on 3 notes and dyads are basically just intervals. However, I'm not entitled to rewrite the language so I should have clarified that. I think the responsible way to phrase that segment would have been "When people say the word 'chord', they're usually talking about something with 3 notes", which is accurate but also teaches the concept without opening up a new can of worms. Thanks for the comment and make sure you call me out next time I over-simplify!

[@Impzhahaha]

Signals Music Studio my bad man I was just relating to the debate cause I see the argument online (r/musictheory constantly) and I just wanted to add to it. I personally don’t think either way is wrong, and it doesn’t matter to me what someone calls it

[@Impzhahaha]

Signals Music Studio my bad man I was just relating to the debate cause I see the argument online (r/musictheory constantly) and I just wanted to add to it. I personally don’t think either way is wrong, and it doesn’t matter to me what someone calls it

[@tonyblox]

Isn't it like, minor triad, major triad, perfect fourth, perfect fifth?

[@RudyAyoub]

I like cant believe you do these in one take

[@Deuxice]

woah

[@haydenlandry3837]

How does this not have more likes??

[@OriginalKingRichTv]

@@haydenlandry3837 1-2-5

[@BRIDKIE]

Play something bro

[@PlanetRockJesus]

I know. Clear thinking.

[@ayatollahmiranda]

Came for the theory, stayed for the Hetfield impersonation.

[@makeshift_battlefield_music]

Lol

[@EversonBernardes]

Petition for the creation of a whole series around Metallica versions of classic songs, Hetfield impersonation included. Signed: 1) Everson Bernardes

[@ayatollahmiranda]

@@LowdownBoy I was totally going to stay for the theory. I watched the rest of the video a little distracted by the hope that there would be a whole Hetfield Hotel California at the end =P

[@leojosepila3005]

Me too!

[@markkthought]

EHEEYEEAHHHHHHHH

[@Reragi]

3:17 you have turned Hotel California into Hot Hell Callin For Ya'

[@killingthemsoftly568]

Nice

[@AbsoluteAbsurd]

Lovely

[@joshuaallgood7030]

“You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave”

[@SonicXRage]

@@joshuaallgood7030 (Yeah, yeah)

[@ozancanca9740]

5:03 *_Guitar Center has left the chat_* *_Rudy Ayoub has entered he chat_* *_Copyright has entered the chat_*

[@Cain_Abyss]

Your Hetfield impersonation is on point! 'Rising up through the ayyyeeeeee' 😂

[@makeshift_battlefield_music]

Lol

[@vpustel]

For me that totally made seens - in German "ayyyeeeeeee" (we would actually write it "Eier") means balls..... rising up through the balls.... never occurred to me when listening to the original, but now is like the scales fell from my eyes, I mean my balls....

[@e11aguru]

It totally could be a song from Garage Inc.

[@Here_Comes_the_sun8855]

🤣🦹🦹🦹

[@MarsHalekGuitar]

I totally want him to finish that cover!

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Just wanna say thank you to all 201,000 of you that decided to learn from my videos. I have the best comment section in all of youtube and thats all your fault! Also thank you x100,000 to my patient Patreon subscribers who sponsor these videos. I'm getting a lot of copyright strikes on my videos now so their help is hugely appreciated. now watch this video and rock out!

[@eikbike]

...soon it will be a copyright infringement just for dropping names like Metallica in your video any where... strike...you typed Metallica scale... strike, you said the name Metallica...shame on us all for giving recognition to bands... holy effing LOL! Great stuff, keep it coming!!!

[@jhbonarius]

202,515-201,000=1,515

[@marshallzingkhai889]

You are the best.

[@klintford8137]

I really love your videos sirs , but i have a question ? Does learning power chords first is a good first step for learning to play a guitar ? I'm a drummer my whole life and i want to explore more about music. Hope you can read this sir. I'm a fan of your vids

[@stitchgrimly6167]

You could do another part on this. Check out Drain You by Nirvana. If you extend the chords out based off the melody you get (tuned down) A(6) C#m(b9) F#m7 Bm / A C#7(b9) F# Bm. It's (inter)changing modally and flirting with the 7th mode of B melodic minor - Bb altered, or super locrian - which doesn't even contain the A which somehow remains at the root. Or don't bother with modes and just try to wrap your head around the complexity and chromaticism of the overall harmonic structure. In any case it's pretty far out stuff and shows just how much you can do with power chords. And that's just one song. Cobain had a gift for that shit that Billie Joe and other latter day punks have never had. They just rewrite Irish rebel songs.

[@kevinsmith7841]

I've taught guitar for 27 years. Started playing at 15. I'm 64 years old now. I wish I had a teacher like you when I first started. Thank you for your contribution to the guitar playing community. Always informative, entertaining and enthusiastic. And humorous.

[@markus-hermannkoch1740]

@andrewcrew andrewcrew lucky you! Now give us some notes. Big ones! 🤟

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Yes, I'm 14 years older than you and grew up when there was no information of this kind. Not even with lessons. My thanks to this guy.

[@carl13220]

You made my day with "Enter California" !!

[@ThingsandStuffchannel]

When you sang the word "air" as James Hetfield, I nearly collapsed. Thank you

[@jumboj2lit1]

Made My Morning!!!😂

[@cherarobin69]

🤣🤣

[@codycooper5768]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dustins4022]

I lawled out loud

[@coaldoubt2879]

So good 😂😂😂 Genius.

[@danieldonathan3361]

Really appreciated the James Hetfield impression :) great video too!

[@cormacsmall9442]

It was so perfect!

[@ChaosPootato]

Fucking spot on

[@maddenstutts2953]

PissedFechtmeister don’t forget the wah

[@makeshift_battlefield_music]

I know it was my favorite part of the video

[@benallison7009]

Me too

[@Deac0n_Blues]

"I really like phrygian dominant" A man after my own heart

[@deaconblues2469]

ayyyy, i really like phrygian dominant too

[@panicrev555]

Is there a phrygian submissive?

[@Esraug9012]

panicrev555 yeah regular Phrygian is Phrygian submissive

[@MushVPeets]

@W0Y4K ...It's also seemingly one of the few scales you can easily play melodies in without any accompaniment whatsoever and it still sounds stable!

[@yarlodek5842]

@@panicrev555 Phrygian Dominant: Asserts dominance with its strong major 3rd Phrygian (Submissive): Submits with its weak minor 3rd

[@th3giv3r]

Hey, even a musical diet of just Green Day and Nirvana songs is still a pretty epic representation of the power, ambiguity, and attitude of what power chords are capable of. It becomes more about the energy over the complexity.

[@thegoatriderfromthesands2646]

I've seen some people say Green Day songs all sound the same, but look at the chill acoustic fingerstyle of Wake Me Up When September Ends, the sad but uplifted dorian mode with tremolos with electric and acoustic effects in Boulevard of Broken Dreams. American Idiot is percussive driven with chops and minimalist but filling sustains. Holiday has the rhythm of the Sith Anthem from Star Wars (which came from Chopin's Marche funèbre and English composer Gustav Holst's Opus 32, The Planets, written between 1914 and 1917,[11] and Grande Marche de Medjidie by August Ritter Von Adelburg) without out being blatant like My Woman by Al Bowlly & Lew Monsignueer Band (better known for the sample Your Woman by White Town but most likely known for the further sample Love Again by Dua Lipa (I don't think that Green Day knew that they used that rhythm just like Ashley McBryde in Radioland, and Weezer in Island On The Sun, the Hotwire commercial jingle, Found A Way from Drake & Josh, but my song You Can Always End It Tomorrow was on purpose). My point is, Green Day actually stood out for me and actually was always my only real example of any mainstream & alternnative pop punk band that has many different sounds

[@wesmatron]

"You get a sound like this... which is glorious" Amen, brother

[@skwisgaarskwigelf331]

My style is doing lots of fast power chords using only downstrokes while screaming *YEAH!!!*

[@anymusic24]

YEAH

[@raxtz8329]

*YEAH!!!!*

[@MadDunhill]

the key to that technique is not using more than 3 power chords.

[@SyncrisisVideos]

@@MadDunhill Three? Jeez, a bit much.

[@dgsta8914]

Skwisgaar Skwigelf okay, Skwisgaar, go back to sweep picking

[@gunvalt8233]

"There's a lot more to power chords than just Green Day and Nirvana songs..." Bruh, I really felt that. As a fan of both bands both lead guitarists inspired me to pick a guitar.

[@theshiningemerald4288]

same here dawg!

[@treadstoned9915]

yup for me it was Breaking Benjamin drop d bar chords and Blink 182 power chords that got me started and the more songs I learned to play the better my ear got and now I will just mess around and figure out songs sometimes.

[@greg6162]

Exactly… look at how diverse the 90’s was for music. Possibly the most diverse decade ever for every genre: grunge, pop-punk, alternative, indie and hip hop etc. So much great music came from the 90’s that had or was their own genre or lived in both, like Rage Against the Machine with sick hyper drop-D riffs or Sublime in the way Brad Nowell blended reggae, punk and blues so melodically

[@CodamATW]

That Hetfiled impression lmaooo! "Yeah!" "Rising up through the ayyeee" Perfect

[@Nossairito]

Dude it just feels redundant to say but man thanks so much for the videos you make, you made me fall in love with music theory and your channel's the gift that keeps on giving, you're doing the world of music a service ! :D

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

thanks :)

[@Nicenigel14]

1:51 That is the real reason powerchords are used so much in rock! Because you are playing 2/3 of a chord or 66.6%

[@InfraredScale]

It's 66,6% percent more chords, per note! How do we get so many notes in there? Like this!

[@torikenyon]

RedStone128 Jimmy Page Johnson, we’re done here.

[@juicysuit7195]

Love your communication style. Straight-forward and fast-paced without a bunch of pointless diversions to stroke your ego. When you went into the little music video bit I was like 'oh no, he couldn't just stick with the lesson'.... but you pulled that off too. Thank you!

[@ericthielmusic9897]

After subscribing and watching a few dozen of your videos I thought it was time to stop and tell you how much I love your channel. Thank you for doing what you do. I've learned so much from you.

[@Tozzinatorr]

Disregard theory, acquire sick riffs should be on a t-shirt. Also that was a spot on Hetfield impersonation.

[@ashuraha]

That was the best music advice I have ever seen.

[@YVZSTUDIOS]

The 2nd time I've watched this video I've noticed that text. It took me second but then I knew which meme it was referencing 😂 Also the the "2 thirds" joke @ 1:50 very nice 👌✨

[@danielgerard6775]

I'd buy that shirt.

[@loka9422]

Dropped everything to watch this channel YET AGAIN.

[@rudranshsharma7064]

11:30 That riff sounds so frickin awesome.

[@atotallyrandomperson3889]

Coming from Mozart, that’s quite the compliment

[@ZaveAres]

Ikr I was really impressed. Gave me vibes of this song in the chorus vv

[@ZaveAres]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3LQeoGjn9WErtk

[@XXTheMoleXX]

I've been learning music for a few months now and this is by far my favorite channel to learn from. Thank you for these videos!

[@Faulheit]

you put your first finger on a fret, but your third one on the string below it two frets away, move it around a bit, an boom now go make a band

[@anymusic24]

thats augmenyed and diminished

[@Faulheit]

@@anymusic24 "two frets away"

[@PMMBart]

Thats exactly what we did in high school. 😂

[@bittaraemaulana4276]

You look like a 2001-era Mike Shinoda, with the black hair/clothes/guitar and Hetfield impersonation. Love the video too, great job!

[@poppunkcovers]

HAHA exactly what I thought, just without his japanese side lol

[@NKLStone]

Omg yeah

[@crossbarhockey455]

So I'm not the only one who see it

[@jedrooney4302]

Fax

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

Binge watching and rewatching weekend for Signals Music Studio. There is not only excellently distilled instruction but so much production value and hilarious or creative insertions throughout. It must take forever to produce but it is so worth it. Thanks for the awesome creativity and instruction!!

[@danevertt3210]

This is the single best video about power chord theory and variations. I’ve come back to it several times for a re watch

[@jameskirk8518]

3:26 Nice hetfield impression

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

its like throat singing, but with lots of "NAH" and "AYYYYYEEEEEE"

[@daronhickman6096]

Love what you did here to get all the copyright holders fighting over the proceeds. Genius! As is your instruction. Much gratitude. Rock On!

[@bittaraemaulana4276]

@@daronhickman6096 this is actually the greatest way to look at the issue

[@khaldounj]

Best guitar music theory channel in KZbin. Thanks for the great content

[@gurubhai_7]

We want full version of Hotel California by Metallica 3:16 - 3:27 Yeahhhh🤘🏻

[@echomotiondnb]

Your videos are incredibly helpful man, keep doing what you’re doing, I appreciate it!

[@markstevens2937]

OMG! I've been playing smoke on the water wrong for 20 years!

[@orepetrovic397]

"warm smell of collita hugh risin' up through the aeeeaaaa!"

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Lol. You nailed the spelling. Aeeeaaaa! Lol.

[@P_Ezi]

People will argue endlessly whether combinations of 1's and 5's should be called a dyad, interval, harmony, or chord. There are experts who can be quoted to support any of these names. When playing a piano, acoustic guitar, or even a horn section, this debate has its place. However, when an instrument is intentionally being distorted by a non-linear signal path, that signal path is really part of the instrument. Playing an electric guitar through a distortion pedal or heavily overdriven amplifier requires a different skill set than playing an acoustic guitar. When intervals composed of 1's and 5's are played with distortion, that is the context when they are called power chords. The distortion naturally adds more notes into the mix. When a combination such as 1-5-1 is played on a distorting instrument, the sounded notes are not just 1-5-1. The distortion adds several new frequencies, and some of these new frequencies are actually the major 3rd. As a simple example, playing 5-1, the inversion where the 5th is just below the root, would normally result in frequencies at 0.75 and 1 times the frequency of the root note. But when playing these two notes on a distorting instrument, distortion products are also naturally produced at frequencies of 0.5 and 1.25 times the original root frequency. The note at 0.5 would be an octave down from the root, and the note at 1.25 is the major 3rd. Now you have a person fingering notes at 5-1 (the 5th and the root), but sounding notes at 1-5-1-3 (0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25 aka root, 5th, root, 3rd). That is one version of the power chord. Note: There will also be many more distortion products present - especially odd harmonics. Some of these will also be major 3rds.

[@voronOsphere]

I just saw an ad for the Encyclopedia of Scales. It claims there are a total of 2048 Scales (no more/no less) and it includes all 2 note intervals as SCALES!!!!

[@voronOsphere]

Great info on the Harmonic Frequencies! That's so wild!

[@cosimobaldi03]

GG

[@MikeDS49]

Beautiful explanation of how power chords work!

[@Zetsuke4]

This is great information, thanks

[@eroticblack]

Dude your ch is amazing. Been watching for 1.5 - 2 yrs. Great to see it growing, i do my part in my circle here and there.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Power Chords are the best on Distortion! Great video to see my man! Knowing this, I will definitely incorporate some more logical and sophisticated playing and utilization in my power chords. Gives new life to them

[@georgeprice4700]

My compliments. I've been teaching for many (too many) years, and this is the best explanation of "power chords" (yeah, I know they're diads) I've seen. And then, the exploration into augmented/diminished 5ths. Well done. Some folks might like this: When I was a kid, I got a Spirograph for Christmas. I soon noticed the gears that had a simple ratio to each other, like 32:64 made simple patterns, but 63:64 made a very complicated pattern. The same thing happens in music: a root and 5 have a 1:1.5 ratio. That makes a simple waveform, practically usable as a single note, as you pointed out. But then other things happen. When you put two frequencies together, you get *more* frequencies. You get one that is the sum of the frequencies, and one that is the difference between them. Example: the "zero beat" you hear when two strings aren't quite on the same note is the difference between the two notes. And then, those new frequencies interact with the originals, and each other, creating lots of other harmonic multiples. As long as the original two notes have a simple ratio like 1:1.5 the spectrum created by those two makes a nice orderly sound. But if the original two are out of tune, or a more dissonant interval, the resulting waves are all over the place, and you get a trashy hash of non-musical frequencies. A guitar in high gain really makes this obvious.

[@fightingstudent2363]

I found you a week ago and i am already learning so much its fascinating, sometimes after years of searching you stumble over the right people so thank you for all this valuable information!

[@landon5890]

I recently started playing my guitars regularly (every day) after a several year break, and man I am sure glad I found your channel! You pulled me out of a long funk of playing everything by ear with very minimal understanding of why. Now I'm reversing engineering everything I know and trying to break bad habits. Thank you for your awesome work!

[@edwardmaxwell3951]

What i like most about Jake is how seriously and nonchalantly he mentions djent dubstep and numetal. 😂 keep it up Jake

[@Kahor2]

Jake, I re-watched this video when I was completely drained of energy after a busy day. This was just the powersurge I needed all day long. You hetfielding almost woke the kids at midnight as I burst out laughing so loud. Btw, excellent presentation of theory - as usual. Thanks!

[@roberthofmann932]

I needed that video 10 years ago :O thanks for round-up!

[@kevinharris6484]

I just want to say Thank you, I have learned so much from you. You're very good at getting some complex ideas across in a simplified manner and it's interesting as hell. Thank you again and keep up the good work.

[@KerryFairbanks]

Honestly you blew my mind with the "stretched out" chord being an inversion. I use it a lot but assumed it was the root at the bass and you just opened my eyes to a melodic error I've been living with at least when I sit and think of the theory of what I'm playing

[@eddraper]

Your best video yet! (for me). Gave me a LOT of ideas!

[@chrisweber860]

Jake, you are an excellent teacher. You make some difficult concepts very easy to understand. THAT'S not easy. And you do it all so non-chalantly. I must add, I enjoy the subtle comedy infused thru out. Thank you!

[@jonathanhguitar]

I just found your channel today and I must say I'm very pleased I did. Thanks for all the content on your KZbin Channel. You have lit that spark for writing songs again. In that regard, I acquired your songwriting course and I'm very hungry to start digging in! Keep up the good work!

[@shafkat_ahmed_dipto]

You are the best teacher in KZbin so far ... and I have listened a lot ... THANK YOU SIR .

[@AlexNovak]

Great stuff. "Weak" by Lagwagon in the 90s taught me the "stretched power chord" and I've been using it since.

[@rocket69218]

Agreed, it always reminds me of No Use for a Name too.

[@SCALEBEASTS]

I feel like my understanding shot up instantly because of this video. I've been playing these chords since my first week of learning guitar and I've been trying to learn to compose for much longer. But this really licks in so many reasons why this is so versatile and how to apply it!

[@robertlewis9243]

You are my go-to for any music theory knowledge I am looking for. Thank you for being straightforward!

[@kagenotatsumaki]

Oooooooh, so THAT'S why my guitar sounded so cool the other day! I found the inverted power chords on string the E and A strings the other day. REALLY got in the way of practicing when I was just jamming out and having fun lol 😆

[@chrisjamesr77]

Yeah, those inverted power chords just sound "extra heavy" to me!

[@Phoenix_On_Fire]

This is how i always practice. I just play nearly every day. Just what ever sounds good and feels good. I can't be bother to practice scales intentionally or chord progressions haha.

[@stevieflowersbeats1506]

This is another one for the stack of gems you have blessed us with.

[@lena7x]

This is one of the best videos I've ever seen on KZbin. Thank you!

[@michaelc5373]

My man, I really needed this video and it came to me at just the right time. Thank you!

[@ZaryaMain]

I've been watching a lot of your videos because they're interesting, I like your educational approach, but on this one I learned something I hadn't considered before about the augmented 5th in the power chord actually implying a major 3rd with a root on the augmented 5th note. Gives it kind of a I-V implication when you nudge the root down a half step. Thanks.

[@artificialinsolence3182]

Don't be so careless, Jake! With that impression you're risking a copyright strike from Metallica AND The Eagles at the same time!

[@rickfeith6372]

According to Rick Beato, Metallica is cool...The Eagles on the other hand are "Blockers". Don Henley ain't having none of that.

[@reineh3477]

One other blocker is Ozzy (or if it is Sharon). Videos can be blocked just by mention his name. And yeah Metallica are cool, maybe they learned something from Napster

[@Tricknologyinc]

@@rickfeith6372 Don Henley is a POS and Glen Frey WAS! They even treated the rest of their own band like shit! You won't pry a penny out of my cold dead hand for Eagles' music! I know that's ironic for the rest of the band, but maybe we can skate 'em tips and leave Henley out in the cold!

[@shubhamdasgupta8605]

@@rickfeith6372 no wonder my video of playing the Hotel California solo got deleted. I get it now.

[@rickfeith6372]

Its disgusting. They are GREAT musicians, every one of em, that write simple to follow yet complex arrangements. But...with that attitude they can go extinct.

[@evertvandenberghe]

Man, you are a great teacher! Great topics, well explained, good voice and enthusiasm, very useful content, well brought in a compact way, basic and in-depth. I just love those videos. Tnx!!

[@hairutheninja]

Love the way you breakdown music theory and how to apply it its very fun and easy to understand your videos have made my guitar and ukelele practice considerably more enjoyable this week

[@hairutheninja]

This one had zero ukulele application but thats okay my strat had fun (I did try doing power chords on uke it jusy doesnt really work the same lol 😆)

[@8bitheroes86]

Q: What happens if you cross a diminished chord with a augmented chord? A: You get a Demented chord :)

[@Tricknologyinc]

How do I get a fermented chord!

[@adammiller6299]

@@Tricknologyinc You need a fermished chord + augmented chord. 'Fermished' is Yiddish for mixed-up, confused.

[@icosahedron3408]

Tricknologyinc record yourself playing it, then use that recording as a sample 20 years later

[@johnb6723]

Lol.

[@keymaster430]

You get what you f___ing deserve!

[@a_random_innocent_personxd2396]

11:30 Here you get a Disney series opening theme. 11:53 And here a boss fight theme

[@JNava]

This is the best music theory lesson I’ve seen in this entire website. Thank you very much.

[@adoxy0751]

This is amazing information to get for free. I love that examples are spliced in too to really drive home your points. Subbed watching this

[@johnmarston1677]

2:50 the hotel California chord sequence is a blatant copy of Jethro Tull's 'we used to know' from the 1969 album 'Stand Up'. The Eagles even toured with Tull at the time. Would be great if people could give Tull some more credit

[@JiveDadson]

There's another song with the Hotel California changes, but I can't remember what it is, or whether it's earlier than 1969. Sucks having 73 year old brains.

[@Alcotoxic]

Great editing, great riffs, great teacher. I learned in 14 minutes way more than I could imagine!!

[@Dm3qXY]

Have you improved your imagination since?

[@josemarrero9979]

I did learn something. Been playing guitar over 20 years now. Thank you and the patreons!!!

[@ALEJANDROARANDARICKERT]

Your explanations are always so cool and clear

[@thonovo8129]

This is a perfect example of "less is more" Thanks!

[@thebloodysurvivor5196]

Dude I love the videos on how you write cord progressions, can you please tell us how to write power cord progressions? (punk/metal/rock) I've been having alot of fun learning more about the guitar through your videos and I would love to be able to further expand that.

[@pentachronic]

Excellent video and explanation. Gonna have to re watch to absorb as much as possible. Bookmarked !!

[@wizmos74]

Love it,extremaly useful every single lesson from you,many thanks!

[@BrendanoHarns]

"Think of Iron Man!" I DONT WANT TO, IT MAKES ME CRY

[@m95antonio0_4]

Love u 3000

[@elijahconnolly5528]

I know it sucked where he died 😢

[@samtah1145]

F

[@frixz__]

shut up normie

[@teemusid]

Okay, let's break down something different. How about the proper way to use spoken voice parts over your song? Let's use Alice Cooper's "Black Wi-" Sorry, my bad.

[@seanmiller7889]

UH OH!... You mentioned The Eagles. Your video will be banned because they have a copyright on the Bm chord.

[@seanmiller7889]

@Know One Ehhh...

[@hahahadracula]

@Know One if I made a song and someone remixes it or uses samples of it I would have no problem with that. I rather have creative freedom than a pile of money.

[@Bad.Rabbit]

If I write a song and someone else plays it themselves, I don't care as long as they give me credit. Credit, not royalties. Don't claim my stuff as your own, but you're welcome to play it, including for other people.

[@hahahadracula]

@@Bad.Rabbit exactly just a bit of credit is enough.

[@theige01]

Know One a lesson of how a song is constructed is Not a cover. Imagine a professor teaching a film class and not being able to play a movie to study, or an art class where teacher has to pay a fee for showing the stroke style in a VanGough painting.

[@jakz51]

That A major example riff took be back to early 2000’s MCR time, Also I love how simple and easy you break down all the theory in your videos, I’m never forgetting this channel.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Started using the inversion of chords about a year ago. Man talk about giving a sound a boost.

[@danielskrivan6921]

One of my favorite things is when I mess around and find a single-note lick, to then turn it into power chords. Do it as notes, then power chords, and it makes it sound so much heavier the second time around.

[@SwarfCrawler]

Ay I do the same thing. A similar example is doing a riff in acoustic guitar and then electric. Like the interlude to the intro to the solo on the song white cluster by opeth (e 553 - 62 - 31)

[@luke342w]

I usually play the tonic, fifth AND the octave, when playing power chords. That way, it feels more full and powerful even when not using distortion. Plus, I'd say it also sounds better than just the tonic + fifth with distortion as well.

[@whocares8735]

How profound

[@brutusminimus2612]

You’re the first person to explain the root & fifth will get me a power chord, I’m new to guitar and you have introduced me to learning it quite like Math as in getting to a result by taking a different path.

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

This is great information. As an old armchair guitarist, I actually pick out songs with melody lines, and had no clue about two-note "power" chords. Thanks.

[@byronstutorialspage2134]

Power Chord Classic: 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' by YES.

[@angusseletto1511]

BYRON'S TUTORIALS PAGE funny,I was thinking the same thing,that's an awesome song

[@logiarhythm6285]

When I started playing the guitar I was highly inspired by System Of A Down so I early on started tuning my guitars to Dropped C. Then in the last years I went back to standard tuning and just then found out the appeal of inverted power chords... I couldnt imagine I'd still be able to play everything this way around! The fifth really deserves its name of the Dominant :)

[@KuroiYuki88]

Wow the amount of knowledge I get from this video and how it gives me the theory to what I've been doing unknowingly for ages. I love it!

[@sebastiandiaz8989]

Best music channel on youtube by far!!, thanks a lot man

[@phantomprism7659]

Omg dude that Metallica bit was great. Awesome videos. Very informative

[@Cormac2023]

Dude, your version of Hotel California was badass.

[@rocco3377]

Excellent video, just clicked to catch something new about power chords and BAM! new subscriber! Looking forward to more content, thank you!

[@IV-V-iii-vi]

The production quality of this video is just another level.

[@AreEnTee]

I didnt know SHAZAM teaches guitar

[@ganondorfchampin]

The thing about the diminished power chords was a revelation. I've heard the tritone is used "a lot" in metal, with people pointing back to the riff "Black Sabbath", but that song is far more dissonant that most metal. Learning that the tritones are actually used as the secret to make power chords more tonal than just using fifths explains why most uses of the tritone in metal don't sound dissonant.

[@drinalco]

Ok, out of all guitar youtubers I watch on a daily basis, you have the most warm "dad" energy

[@MrJibarra1985]

You nailed it. This is just what I was looking for. Great content, great teach in and explanations of the material. I have something to work with now and A better understanding. Great job man thank you!!

[@lynksdisease8795]

You missed one of the thicc-est most powerful power chord shapes, which is just 2 power chords stacked. e.g. E|5 A|5 D|7 G|7

[@Lenamoraes700]

No one man should have all that power

[@voronOsphere]

Those sound great!

[@toranada]

I don't understand. Can someone explain this a little more? Needing more power.

[@voronOsphere]

@@toranada Here's an easy example: Make a G5 Power Chord with your index finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string (G) and your middle finger on the 5th fret of the A string (D). Now put your pinky on the 7th fret of the D string (A). You'll see that you're fretting 2 different Root & 5th Power Chords at the same time: a G5 from your index finger AND a D5 from your middle finger.

[@voronOsphere]

@Kanashimi Oh, yeah. A to G. Thanks!

[@Th3K1dd]

If Mike Shinoda and Gilbert Gottfried had a son.

[@drifter1984]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Always a huge help!

[@disarmored]

Top quality video. I've laughed hard at Hetfield's impersonation, and all the explanations are brilliant. Haven't enjoyed a theory video this much in a while, keep up the good work!

[@buddyhimself]

I can't talk about "Stretched-out power chords" without playing "Hold On Loosely."

[@3l1t3channel]

Amazing song!

[@noob5000000]

3:57 first 3 notes sound like the beginning of Owner of a Lonely Heart

[@maxichillo]

was searching for this comment

[@nurk_barry]

Been playing guitar for 20 years and I actually learned something new tonight!! Thanks you