How to Play the G5 Chord on Guitar

If you like simple but powerful chords, it’s time to get acquainted with the G5. Also known as the G power chord, this basic chord packs a solid punch. You can hear it in many different genres and find it in a variety of positions along the neck.

What Notes Make Up the G5 Chord?

The G5 chord is made up of two notes: G (the root) and D (the 5th). Since it consists of only two notes, it’s easy to maneuver around the fretboard and use different finger positionings to play this chord. Wherever you can play a G note and a D note in tandem, you can play a G5.

Another interesting thing about the G5 power chord is that it is neither a major chord nor a minor chord because it’s only made up of two notes.

G5 Finger Positionings for the G5 Chord

Now that you know more about the G5 chord, let’s look at some of the different ways you can play it.

The first positioning we’ll look at is a battle-tested favorite for rocking out, taking a low-end approach to the chord. This placement is a favorite for punk, rock and metal. Crank the distortion, pop the amp to 11, and you’ll get a sense of why this particular G5 chord positioning is so popular.

• • Index finger: 3rd fret of the low E (6th) string

• • Pinky finger: 5th fret of the A (5th) string

Strum two strings down from the low E string

This second variation on the G5 chord is similar to the two-string chord we just played. Once you have the two-note version down, try adding your pinky into the mix and reach for the G octave on the D string. The octave adds fullness to the chord without taking away the heaviness. And in this formation, you can move your hand around the neck to play other 5th (power) chords.

• • Index finger: 3rd fret of the low E (6th) string

• • Ring finger: 5th fret of the A (5th) string

• • Pinky finger: 4th fret of the D (4th) string

Strum three strings down from the low E string

Looking at a slightly different version of the G5 chord, you can take the chord further down the neck and bring the chord up an entire octave. This version of the G5 chord gives you a fun, thrashy/punky attack that really cuts through the chaos:

• • Index finger: 10th fret of the A (5th) string

• • Pinky finger: 12th fret of the D (4th) string

Strum two strings down from the A string

For one more way to play the G5 chord, this is a “goldilocks” placement — not too light, not too heavy.

• • Index finger: 5th fret of the D (4th) string

• • Ring finger: 7th fret of the G (3rd) string

Strum two strings down from the D string

The G5 chord is pretty versatile and easy to construct. All you have to do is find a G and drop the D underneath it. Explore your guitar and see all the places this chord shows up. And who knows, the perfect placement might inspire you to write your next song.

Songs That Use the G5 Chord

You’ll find the G5 chord in all sorts of genres, from bangers to ballads and everything in between. Check these songs out, even if they aren’t in your usual go-to style:

Rock Songs

Listen for the G5 chord in “Cherub Rock” by Smashing Pumpkins. The angsty power chord gives Billy Corgan an assist to let his frustrations out about bands being called “sellouts” once they make their leap to a major label.

On a slightly less angsty note, Cheap Trick’s “Dream Police” is a great way to practice your G5 chord while exploring how different attacks and strumming patterns can push and pull the mood of a song.

Taking the G5 chord in an even more aggressive and heavy direction is “Balls to the Wall” by Accept.

This underrated metal classic is a ton of fun to play and gives you a lot of practice moving that power chord structure all around the neck.

Pop Songs

One of the biggest songs by one of the biggest bands of all time, “Beautiful Day” by U2 makes good use of the G5 power chord to drive the tempo of this optimistic power ballad.

If you're looking for an acoustic song to riff on, “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski is your jam. Mitski was named one of “10 Artists You Need to Know” in 2015 by Rolling Stone. Try strumming along and practice playing the G5 chord on this tune!

For a genre-bending example of the G5 power chord in action, check out “Free Your Mind” by ‘90s quartet En Vogue. But wait … isn’t this a synth-pop song? It is! And it’s got some iconic guitar riffs that include the G5 in the mix. Listen and try to play this song as you’re expanding your chord repertoire. Exploring song structures in different genres is a great way to introduce new ideas to your creations.

If you’re new to the G5 and power chord formations, stick with it. Once you get the technique down, you’ll have a strong base for almost any type of song. Have fun and keep strumming.

If you'd like to learn how to play even more chords, take a look at Fender Play's chord library. And if you're not a member yet, sign up for a free Fender Play trial.