power chords

Punk guitar staple

Power chords are guitar chords stripped to their essentials—just the root note and the fifth, without the third that would make them major or minor.

This ambiguity gives them a raw, versatile sound that dominates rock, punk, and metal.

They're easy to play and move around the fretboard, making them a staple for beginners and professionals alike: The whole song is just three power chords.

Opposites
harmonic complexity

power chordsmajor chords

Three-note happy harmonies

seventh chords · minor chords

musical genre/aesthetic

power chordschamber music

Small-group classical compositions

easy listening · smooth jazz · flamenco

technical complexity

power chordsbarre chords

Guitar technique using flat finger

jazz guitar · comping

Family

power, powerful, empower, powerless, powers, overpower, chord, chords, powerfully

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Rated G