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Power Chord – Definition
A power chord is a chord consisting of the root note and the perfect fifth, often doubled with the root an octave higher. Because it contains no third, it is neither major nor minor.
What is a Power Chord?
Power chords are commonly written as C5, G5, or A5. Since they omit the third, they have an open and harmonically neutral sound that works equally well in major and minor contexts. Their simplicity also makes them especially effective with distortion.
Power chords are a defining feature of rock, hard rock, punk, metal, and many other guitar-driven styles.
How is a Power Chord used in piano playing?
Pianists use power chords to create a strong, uncluttered low-end sound in rock and pop arrangements. Playing only the root and fifth avoids the muddiness that can occur when full triads are played in the lower register.
Learning power chords gives keyboard players a simple but highly effective way to add energy, weight, and rhythmic drive to modern music.