Power Chord

The Power Chord, or Fifth Chord, is not technically a chord in the traditional harmonic sense, as it lacks the third and consequently the 'quality' (major or minor). It is composed only of the root and the perfect fifth (and very often the root doubled at the octave, thus doubling the lowest note for greater fullness). Its sound is 'powerful', 'robust', and 'direct', with a 'raw' and often intensely distorted sound, making it ubiquitous and iconic in rock, metal, punk, and aggressive musical styles. The absence of the third makes it harmonically ambiguous and allows it to be used on progressions that would otherwise change the quality of the third (e.g., on both major and minor progressions) without creating undesirable conflicts or dissonances. It is extremely effective with distortion because the lack of thirds and sevenths prevents the notes from 'clashing' and creating harmonic 'mud' when the sound is saturated, ensuring clarity and impact even at high volumes.

Common Progressions

• I5 - IV5 - V5 (the basic progression of an enormous number of rock, punk, and metal songs, providing a solid and aggressive foundation)
• Any progression based on major or minor triads can be played with power chords for an energetic and harmonically unambiguous 'rock' effect, ideal for powerful riffs.
• Often used for guitar riffs and aggressive rhythmic sections, where sonic clarity and rhythmic impact are more important than harmonic complexity or emotional coloring.