power chord
Guitarist's heavy sound
A power chord is a guitar chord consisting of only the root note and the fifth, omitting the third that would make it major or minor.
This ambiguity gives power chords their characteristic open, heavy sound.
They're the foundation of rock, punk, and metal music, typically played on electric guitar with distortion: The song kicks off with a simple three-note power chord progression.
Repeated musical phrase
- stageRaised performance platform
- bandGroup playing music together
- concertLive musical performance
- headbangViolent rhythmic nodding
mosh pit · crowd · arena · encore · setlist · wall of sound · stadium · festival
Twisting from original state
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- fretboardStringed instrument's neck face
- fifthFive's place in sequence
- root noteChord's namesake pitch
barre · palm mute · downstroke · dyad · sustain · feedback · gain · crunch
Raw, fast rock genre
- grungeAccumulated dirt or filth
- metalHard conductive solid
- rockSolid earthen material
- alternativeAnother available choice
hardcore · thrash · garage rock · hard rock · indie · emo · post-punk · noise rock
In original state
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- heavyOf great mass
loud · intense · anthemic · massive · thunderous · crushing · relentless · visceral
riff
Repeated musical phrase
headbang · mosh pit · crowd · arena · encore · setlist · wall of sound · stadium · festival · gig
distortion
Twisting from original state
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- fretboardStringed instrument's neck face
- fifthFive's place in sequence
root note · barre · palm mute · downstroke · dyad · sustain · feedback · gain · crunch · open tuning
punk
Raw, fast rock genre
alternative · hardcore · thrash · garage rock · hard rock · indie · emo · post-punk · noise rock · nu-metal
raw
In original state
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
heavy · loud · intense · anthemic · massive · thunderous · crushing · relentless · visceral · primal
- Power PopCheap Trick, The Knack, Badfinger, 20/20, melodic hooks
- harmonyharmony, triad, triads, consonance, tonality
- chordsA major, A minor, B major, B minor, C major
- Heavy MetalMetallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden
- rock concert soundsguitar riff, drum beat, bass line, distortion, feedback
- musical stabsstab
power chordmajor chord
Three-note bright consonance
minor chord · seventh chord · jazz chord · diminished chord · suspended chord
power, chord, powers, powered, powering, powerful, powerfully, powerless, powerlessness