G power chord (G5) chord on guitar

Looking for the G5 chord on guitar? It is a power chord (root plus perfect fifth, no third), made of two notes: G – D.

Dots show:

Open positioneasy

E shape, fret 3easy

Position 3easy

D shape, fret 5medium

Position 8easy

A shape, fret 10easy

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the G5 chord sounds like

A power chord has only the root and the fifth, no third, so it is neither major nor minor. With a distorted guitar it sounds the cleanest – the backbone of rock and metal.

Notes of the G5 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	G	root
5	D	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Open position, barre at fret 3

String 1 (e): fret 3, index finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (D4)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): not played
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 3; your other fingers press the higher frets.

E shape, fret 3

String 1 (e): not played
String 2 (B): not played
String 3 (G): not played
String 4 (D): fret 5, little finger (G3)
String 5 (A): fret 5, ring finger (D3)
String 6 (E): fret 3, index finger (G2)

Position 3, barre at fret 3

String 1 (e): fret 3, index finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (D4)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G3)
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 3; your other fingers press the higher frets.

The “C, A, G, E and D shapes” are the CAGED system: you slide the shape of the open C, A, G, E or D chord up the neck and your index finger (a barre) takes over the job of the nut. That way the same chord can be played in five places, anywhere on the fretboard.

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Playing G5 with a capo

A capo clamps all the strings at one fret, so a familiar open shape sounds higher. You can also get a G5 chord with these open shapes:

Capo: fret 3
shape: E5

Capo: fret 5
shape: D5

Rework a whole song for a capo: chord transposer →

Which keys is it in?

The G5 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

G major: I5 (tonic)
G minor: I5 (tonic)
C major: V5 (dominant)
D major: IV5 (subdominant)
C minor: V5 (dominant)
D minor: IV5 (subdominant)
E♭ major: III5
B♭ major: VI5
F major: II5
A minor: VII5
E minor: III5
B minor: VI5

Similar chords and substitutes

If G5 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

G – a major chord can replace the power chord
Gm – or a minor chord, depending on the melody

Richer versions

G – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Gm – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Gsus2 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Gsus4 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the G5 chord?

G, D. The root is G; the intervals of the other notes from the root: perfect fifth.

What is the easiest way to play G5 on guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Open position”, rated easy. We show 6 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck. With a capo you can also play it as a E5 shape at fret 3 or a D5 shape at fret 5.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the G5 chord written?

The chord symbol is G5, and its full name is G power chord.