What's the Easy Path to Rock Glory?

Many guitarists learn quickly that a power chord played with a distorted sound is a thing of beauty. Want to get in on the fun? Here are some tips to get you started:

Sustain and Decay

When distortion is added to a guitar, the notes will ring out for a longer time (what players refer to as “sustain”) and won’t lose volume as easily (aka “decay”). Sustain, combined with a power chord creates a powerful and recognizable sound that a many rockers have capitalized on.

Sound Like a Rock God

Most rock tunes are known for using power chords. Whether played with two fingers or three fingers, a power chord is actually only made up of two different notes. These two notes sound incredible together and the distortion enhances this. The beauty of distortion is that it makes this great sound last a longer time than if you just play it without distortion.

Guitarists intuitively recognize the fact that a power chord is an easy shape with notes that naturally work very well together. They capitalize on this fact by adding distortion, which only makes what they do sound even more amazing.

So take a moment, crank up the distortion and play a few power chords. Watch as the crowds gather to witness your ascent to rock stardom.

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