Power Chords: How to Play Power Chords on Electric Guitar
Power chords (written as a "5", e.g. E5) are the most common chord in electric guitar riffs, and physically easier to play than regular open chords.
Only two different notes
Unlike a regular triad (3 different notes), a power chord has only two - the root and the fifth. Because of that it has no 'major' or 'minor' color at all - it sounds equally at home in a major or a minor piece of music, which is exactly why it's everywhere in rock and metal riffs.
The shape doesn't change, it just moves
The key property of a power chord is that it's a movable shape - the same finger placement plays different power chords depending on which fret it sits on. Learn the open-string E5 shape once, and the same shape slid up 3 frets gives you G5 - nothing new to learn.
Usually played palm-muted
Power chords are most often played with light palm muting near the bridge - that muted, chugging sound combined with a distorted guitar tone is exactly what's recognized as a rock or metal riff. Without muting, the same shape sounds more open and ringing.
Why this is a good first electric guitar chord
A power chord only uses 2-3 strings and doesn't require the four-finger stretch that many open chords do - that makes it physically easier for hands not yet used to the neck. And riffs built entirely from power chords are enough to play recognizable parts of a huge number of real songs.
Try it in practice
Open chord trainer