Session 9: Power Chords: Your Rock Foundation

Duration: 50 minutes

Forget everything you know about open chords for the next 50 minutes. Today you learn power chords — the sound that defines rock and metal. Power chords use just two or three strings, do not require full chord shapes, and sound massive with distortion (and satisfyingly punchy on your acoustic). You will also learn palm muting — a technique that gives power chords their signature chugging sound. The payoff: “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath, one of the most iconic riffs in heavy metal history.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

1. Play E5 and A5 power chords with a full, clean sound
2. Read power chord TAB notation
3. Apply palm muting to power chords for a tight, percussive sound
4. Move between E5 and A5 power chords at 70 BPM
5. Play the “Iron Man” main riff (simplified) by Black Sabbath

Materials Needed

• Your Saga SF-600C-BK guitar
• A guitar pick
• A clip-on tuner or phone tuner app
• A metronome
• Reference: Power Chord Technique

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Segment 1 — Warm-Up and Stretch (5 minutes)

Finger Stretches

1. Finger spread — 3 times, hold 5 seconds each.
2. Wrist circles — 5 each direction per wrist.
3. Finger touch — 5 times per hand.

Tune Your Guitar

Tune all six strings (EADGBE).

Warm-Up

Play the first 4 measures of the “12-Bar in A” (Session 8) at 70 BPM. Then play Em → E → Am → D at 65 BPM, one measure each (D/U pattern), for 8 measures. This reviews your open chords before we move to power chords.

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Segment 2 — Technique Focus: Palm Muting (10 minutes)

What Is Palm Muting?

Palm muting is a technique where you rest the edge of your strumming hand (the fleshy part below your pinky, the “karate chop” edge) lightly on the strings at the bridge. This dampens the strings so they produce a short, tight, chunky sound instead of a full, ringing tone.

How to do it:

1. Hold your pick normally.
2. Rest the edge of your palm (strumming hand) on the strings, right where they cross the bridge saddle. Not on the bridge itself (too far back — no muting effect). Not over the soundhole (too far forward — completely deadens the sound).
3. The pressure should be light — just enough to dampen the strings without completely silencing them. You want a “chunk” sound, not silence.
4. Strum string 6 (low E). It should sound tight and percussive — “chunk” instead of “ring.”

Palm Muting Exercise

At 60 BPM, alternate between open strums (O) and palm-muted strums (PM) on the low E string:

e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|
    O  PM   O  PM   O  PM   O  PM
    1   2   3   4   1   2   3   4

O = open (lift palm, let string ring) PM = palm muted (rest palm on bridge, strum for tight “chunk”)

The contrast between open and muted is what gives rock guitar its dynamic punch. Practice this for 4 measures.

Palm Muting on Two Strings

Now mute strings 6 and 5 together:

e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------|
A|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|
E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|
    PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

All palm muted. This is the chugging sound of rhythm guitar in rock and metal. Keep the tempo even and the muting consistent.

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Segment 3 — New Learning: Power Chords (15 minutes)

What Is a Power Chord?

A power chord is a stripped-down chord that uses only two or three notes. It is neither major nor minor — it is neutral, raw, and aggressive. Power chords are written with a “5” after the note name: E5, A5, G5, etc.

E5 Power Chord

E5

OXXXX

1

EADGBe

Step-by-step:

1. Place your index finger (1) on string 5 (A string), fret 2.
2. String 6 (low E) is open.
3. Strum ONLY strings 6 and 5. This is a two-string strum — small and controlled.
4. The other strings should not ring.

Three-string version (optional, fuller sound):

Add your ring finger (3) on string 4 (D string), fret 2. Now strum strings 6, 5, and 4.

E5 (three-string):

• String 6 (E): Open
• String 5 (A): Fret 2, Finger 1 (index)
• String 4 (D): Fret 2, Finger 3 (ring)

A5 Power Chord

A5

XOXXX

1

EADGBe

Three-string version:

Add finger 3 (ring) on string 3 (G string), fret 2. Strum strings 5, 4, and 3.

E5 ↔ A5 Transition

This transition is simple:

• E5 → A5: Your index finger (1) stays on fret 2 but moves from string 5 to string 4. One string shift.
• A5 → E5: Reverse — index finger from string 4 back to string 5.

Drill: E5 (strum) → A5 (strum) → E5 → A5. One strum per chord. 20 times. No metronome — focus on aiming your strum at the correct two strings.

With metronome: 70 BPM, one chord per beat. E5, A5, E5, A5. 8 measures.

Power Chords with Palm Muting

Palm muting is power chords’ best friend. Play E5 with your palm resting on the bridge:

e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------|
A|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|
E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|
     PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM PM
     1   &   2   &   3   &   4  &

That tight, chugging sound is the essence of rock rhythm guitar.

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Segment 4 — Song Workshop: “Iron Man” — Black Sabbath (15 minutes)

Song Information

Song: “Iron Man” Artist: Black Sabbath Album: Paranoid (1970) What you are learning: The iconic main riff — one of the most recognisable riffs in rock history. This simplified version uses power chords and single-note movements.

Tempo: 70 BPM (the original is approximately 76 BPM — you are close) Technique: Power chords with palm muting, single-note movement

Complete TAB — “Iron Man” Main Riff (Simplified)

The riff uses string 5 (A) and string 6 (low E). It combines single notes with power chord shapes.

"Iron Man" — Main Riff (Simplified)

Part 1: The signature melody (play twice)

e|------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|---2---2---5---5---7---7---5---5-----------|
E|------------------------------------------|
     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
     PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM  PM

Finger guide:
  Fret 2: Finger 1 (index)
  Fret 5: Finger 3 (ring)
  Fret 7: Finger 4 (pinky)

All notes are on string 5 (A string). Palm mute throughout.

Part 2: Power chord descent

e|------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|---2---2---2---2--------------------------|
A|---2---2---2---2---0---0---0---0-----------|
E|---0---0---0---0--------------------------|
     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

     E5              Open A string

Finger guide:


E5: Finger 1 on string 5 fret 2 (+ finger 3 on string 4 fret 2 for three-string version)


  Open A: No fingers, just strum string 5 open

Full Riff Structure

Play in this order:

1. Part 1 — play twice
2. Part 2 — play once
3. Repeat from beginning

How to Learn This Riff

Step 1 — Part 1 alone: Play just the notes on string 5 (frets 2, 5, 7, 5). No palm muting yet. Just get the fret positions right. Use alternate picking (D U D U).

Finger movement guide:

• Start with finger 1 on fret 2
• Slide or jump to finger 3 on fret 5
• Stretch finger 4 to fret 7 (keep finger 3 on fret 5 as an anchor)
• Back to finger 3 on fret 5

Step 2 — Add palm muting: Rest your palm on the bridge. Play Part 1 again. Every note should sound tight and chunky.

Step 3 — Part 2 alone: Play the E5 power chord (strings 6+5+4 at fret 2) for beats 1 and 2, then open A string for beats 3 and 4. Palm mute throughout.

Step 4 — Combine: Play Part 1 twice, then Part 2 once. This is one complete cycle of the riff. Repeat the cycle.

Step 5 — Set tempo: Start at 55 BPM. Work up to 70 BPM.

What it should sound like: Heavy, menacing, deliberate. Tony Iommi wrote this riff to sound like a massive iron figure slowly walking. The palm muting gives it weight and the fret jumps give it melody. Even on an acoustic guitar without distortion, the riff is unmistakable.

Performance Notes

• Keep the palm muting consistent throughout — every note should have the same tight “chunk”
• The jump from fret 2 to fret 5 is the biggest stretch so far in this course. If it feels difficult, it will become easier as your hand develops flexibility. Do not strain — make the jump in a relaxed motion
• The jump from fret 5 to fret 7 uses your pinky (finger 4) for the first time in a song. Your pinky may feel weak. This is normal — it will strengthen with practice

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Segment 5 — Review and Practice Plan (5 minutes)

What You Learned Today

• Power chords (E5 and A5) — neutral, aggressive, two-to-three-string chords
• Palm muting — resting the strumming hand on the bridge for a tight, percussive sound
• Reading power chord TAB
• Single-note movement on string 5 across frets 2, 5, and 7
• The “Iron Man” main riff by Black Sabbath

Common Mistakes

1. Palm muting too heavy — If the notes sound completely dead, lift your palm slightly. You want “chunk,” not silence.
2. Palm muting too light — If the notes ring fully with no muting, press your palm a bit more firmly on the bridge strings. Find the sweet spot.
3. Strumming too many strings on power chords — E5 is only strings 6+5 (or 6+5+4). If you hear higher strings ringing, you are strumming too wide. Keep the strum tight and focused.
4. Weak pinky on fret 7 — Your pinky is your weakest finger. Press firmly and close to the fret wire. It will strengthen over the coming weeks.
5. Losing the rhythm during fret jumps — The jump from fret 2 to fret 5 causes many beginners to pause. Keep your strumming hand moving at a constant pace — even if you are slightly late placing your fretting finger, the rhythm must stay steady.

Self-Check Questions

1. Can you play E5 with only strings 6 and 5 sounding (no other strings ringing)?
2. Does your palm muting produce a consistent “chunk” sound, not a dead silence?
3. Can you move between frets 2, 5, and 7 on string 5 without looking at your fretting hand?
4. Can you play the “Iron Man” riff (Part 1 + Part 2) at 65 BPM with palm muting throughout?

Practice Plan (Daily, 20–25 minutes)

Block	Time	Activity
Warm-Up	3 min	Finger stretches + tune
Open Chord Review	3 min	A → D → E → Em → Am, one strum each, D/U pattern at 70 BPM, 4 cycles
Palm Muting	4 min	Palm-muted eighth notes on string 6, then strings 6+5, at 70 BPM. 4 measures each
Power Chord Drill	3 min	E5 → A5, one strum each, 70 BPM. 20 times. Then with palm muting
Iron Man Riff	8 min	Part 1 (twice) + Part 2 (once) = one cycle. Practice at 60–70 BPM. Aim for 4 clean cycles without stopping

Guitar Tip — Saga SF-600C-BK

Power chords on an acoustic guitar sound different from power chords on an electric with distortion — and that is not a bad thing. Your Saga SF-600C-BK produces a clean, punchy power chord sound that trains your ears to hear the raw harmonic quality. When you eventually play through an amplifier with distortion, your power chords will sound massive because you have already developed clean technique. Also, the Saga’s steel strings respond well to palm muting — the bridge saddle is positioned perfectly for resting your palm while still allowing the strings to vibrate with that characteristic “chunk.”