Main ideas
- The root is the note a chord is named after.
- Power chords often start from low E or A roots.
- G on low E is fret 3.
- C on A is fret 3.
- Root-note fluency makes chord movement less mysterious.
When you know the root, many chord shapes instantly make more sense.
A root note names the chord. Low E and A string roots are especially important because so many movable chord and power-chord shapes depend on them.
Open-string notes are highlighted differently from fretted notes, and this lesson highlights its key notes in green.