This section will cover Powerchords, Heavy Metal and some sub genres, and basic amp and guitar set up.

We recommend the Peavey Rage 158
Most amps will have these basic controls!

• Gain, for preamp distortion.

• Volume, to adjust overall loudness.

• Bass, to adjust bottom end.

• Middle, to adjust midrange frequencies.

• Treble, to adjust highs.

• Reverb, if you are lucky!... gives a springy big room sound.

• Channel switch, if you are VERY lucky! Switch between clean and dirty.

• Gain control to 10.

• Bass on 10. 

• Middle on 0. 

• Treble 5 to 10 depending on taste!  

• Volume LOUD! 

• Reverb (optional!) on 3.

Now you hopefully are ready to rip it up!

The pick-ups on the guitar will produce a variety of 
tones. For crunchy power chords and screaming leads 
you would usually use the bridge pick-up, or 'treble'
on a Les Paul/SG style guitar...

Use the bridge pick up on the guitar, volume and tone on 10, which is where Manowar say all men should play 
anyway...
(And who needs tone controls...)

• Not for power chords usually, but set it up now anyway!

• Gain, use as master volume. 

• Bass, mid and treble as above. 

• Volume on 7 or 8. 

• Reverb on 5 or 6.

Use the neck pick up or the middle and neck setting on ST style guitars for warm clean tone. Maybe take the guitar volume down to 6 or 7 to smooth it out a bit.

• Tune the low E string down to D, one "whole step". 
  (the same pitch as the D or 4th string, an octave lower).

Now you can play 1 finger power chords all over the bottom 2 strings, ignoring theory...!
Pick all downstrokes (towards yer toes) as fast as humanly possible, 
trying to maintain some sort of rhythmic pulse!
Accent odd chords as though you are angry at the world,
punching, hammering chords in a crazed fashion...anything goes!....
(Ozzy fans practice those meat dodging moves...)

If all else fails grab the wang bar and make a few noises until you are ready for the next assault! Of course, you have to create your own style, man!

You can now play anything and it will sound acceptable very quickly! 
Hey, that is cool!
Now, write some angry words to match and belch them out like you mean it. 
Now you are ready for your first recording deal!...er...would you believe....

Powerchords:

These chords are the foundation of rock as we know it! Try playing "Paranoid" without them! The interval between the 2 notes is a "fifth"

Use your 1st and 3rd fingers to fret notes.
Do not play "red" notes. Try to "mute" them by holding your right hand on the bridge, which will also make the sound heavier!
Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath often uses his 4th finger or "pinky" to play this chord. You can move the chord up and down the fretboard, which has the effect of changing the key or name of the chord.

Here are the fret positions for the E string power chords:

• E: open position or 12th fret.

• F: 1st fret.

• F#: 2nd fret.

• G: 3rd fret.

• G#: 4th fret.

• A: 5th fret.

• A#: 6th fret.

• B: 7th fret.

• C: 8th fret.

• C#: 9th fret.

• D: 10th fret.

• D#: 11th fret.

The humble "Power chord" can be played anywhere with great results!
Try switching strings, change positions...improvise at will!
Muting is an important technique for heavy playing. Rest your hand on the bridge to control unwanted string vibration and overtones, it really makes things sound much tighter and punchier.

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