IronSam

I have wondered this thing for a while. I've been playing over a year now and when I play power chords (lets take C5 as an example) I use my index on the A string and my barred pinky on the D and G strings. Now when I've watched some videos on youtube (of some home players who think they'r so cool) I've noticed that many of them crawl their fingers when playing power chords instead of barreing.

So here is the question: Which one is the (more) right way to play 3 stringed power chords (C5 for example)? Is my barred index + pinky combination a wrong way and should I play that C5 like index on A, ring on D and pinky on G instead? I can use both ways but I find it easier to change chords with 2-finger barre (in songs like Dokkens Breaking the chains). Can you give some examples what ways you self use?

Thank you

Poglia

I personally use index finger without barreing, ring finger and pinky.



Exactly like the rhythm guitarist with the yellow Flying V guitar.

identityxcrysis

Whatever is more comfortable to you.
I used to play the way you did, and noticed that no one else really did. But after a while it became really painful to bar the two strings with my pinky, and I slowly started using my pinky and my ring finger more and more, and that's how I play them all. Do it whatever way works best for you.

__________________
Last.fm
Xbox Live: identityxcrysis

"Your first thought should be, "When this is all over, can I still look in the mirror?""

Axe Murderer

Seems like a personal thing to me. Ive been going for about a year now and Ive tried the barred way, but really didnt like it. I use my index, ring and pinky. That took some practice too (mainly the pinky) but it just worked best for me.

Athetosis

Oi. How do you do that?

You must have some serious sausage fingers or else you're never sliding those powerchords up.

It hurts the crap out of my fingers to do that, bends it weird at the knuckle. Then again, I have long, spindly fingers :|

__________________

GustavLW

Holy shit, is that piny barre-thingy even possible?

6_months_N

I usually play in drop-D or low-B, but in E standard I barre with my Ring, is that wrong?

Poglia

Yes I tried it some times and it works, but I don't like it.

Op3th

That's the same way I play power chords: index with my pinky barring the other two notes. I find that is the most natural, easy way for me to do it (especially on acoustic).

__________________
Breedlove Studio D25/SM Acoustic
Epiphone Les Paul Custom w/ EMGs
B-52 AT-212 Tube Amp
MXR 10 Band EQ
Digitech Bad Monkey
Boss RC-2 Loop Station

Necrophagist777

I have no problems barring with my pinky, ive always done it that way.

__________________

Fractal Axe-Fx Ultra
EBMM JP7 Dargies Delight II
Manuel Rodriguez C Cedar Top

sesstreets

I do it with my ring and middle finger. Try it, unless you have quite large hands like I do its a painful thing.

But then again I have no problem play an F#7 chord with the first two strings.

Yes thats fret 2 on the E string and fret 8 on the A string. Thats how big my hands are.

Zar Mulix

I use my index ring and pinky for powerchords. Not only do I find it uncomfortable to barre with my pinky, but it leaves the rest of my fingers contorted in a weird way and doesn't leave them open to do much else.

__________________
I don't need a sig....

sbikram

it's not that hard as you think buddy...
I play that way too...

__________________

brentondig

A always tell myself to not play barred-power chords, and it works for a little while, but as I get really into a song, I revert back to playing barred ones. I'm sure there isn't much difference, besides how comfortable my fingers feel.

Enclose

I use my indexfinger for the root note and ringfinger to barre the the others. Same thing as you do, just a different finger.

My hand does tend to hurt after 15 minutes or so of playing (with which I mean almost completely powerchordbased songs). It might just be my mustles still building up though (I only started recently)

Zaphod_Beeblebr

1 - Playing that "F#7" shape you named isn't actually F#7, it's just 2 notes, even if it was implying a chord it would be F#maj7, F#7 contains the 1 3 5 b7.

2 - That isn't actually a big or awkward stretch so stop trying to brag. For anyone who practices stretching chords and licks that's not hard at all.

3 - The way you play is actually poor technique, stretching needlessly isn't a good idea at all. Learn to play any of the other ways.

__________________

Findinghomer

power chords are to be played with three fingers, barring is very bad technique. esp if your a beginner , playing the correct way will help you when you start learning real barre chords.

R.D

I find using my ring finger and pinky better. It's easier to go from that into single notes or other types of chords, cause when you barre you put down a lot more force than indovidual fingers, this leads to you're fingers resisting movement against eachother and makes finger independancy more difficult

+ it will get your hands in the right places for barre chords

__________________
Guitars:
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Gibson Explorer New Century
Gibson RD Artist
Fender American Standard Telecaster

Amps:
Framus Cobra
Marshall JCM800 2203 - 1960A

Pedals:
Crybaby 535Q
Rockbox Boiling Point Overdrive

fretman5000

I barre the strings with my index and ring finger and leave the middle and pinky at rest.