Why are powerchords named this way? what does it mean?

[johnbiggs]

for example: the power chord "D5", in my book it shows it takes place on the A, D, G strings. I know that D5 would be in the key of D, but what does the "5" mean. Also if i were to play a random three string power chord just like D5 somewhere, how would i name it? a formula??

thanks

[noticingthemistake]

The 5 just means five steps above the root. Like you said a D5, count up five notes D, E, F, G, A. So the fifth above D is A. Placed together as a chord it would be D5. The chord would look like this.

E:-----
B:-----
G:--7-- <- octave of root
D:--7-- <- the fifth A
A:--5-- <- the root D
E:-----

[Azrael]

Exaclty - because a Powerchord is not realy a Chord in the strict sene of the word, for a chord consitst of at least 3 DIFFERENT notes. In the case of a powerchord you have only 2 different notes - the root and the fifth - octaves do not count as different notes. Powerchords are part of full chords - major or minor chords for example.

e|---1--- <-- Root 8va
b|---1--- <-- Fifth
g|--2/1-- <-- major Third/minor Third
d|---3--- <-- Root..................\
a|---3--- <-- Fifth 8vb..............| F5 Powerchord
e|---1--- <-- Root 8vb............./

its as easy as this.



[Edited by Azrael on 01-10-2003 at 02:33 AM]

[griphon2]

Always least is best for power and loudness. One person with an amp or 30 people with one note.

[Kevin Taylor]

Power chords are usually just the lowest 2 or 3 notes of a regular chord. The main advantage to em is they don't have any specific major or minor quality to em, so you can use them over just about anything. Another advantage is when using distortion, you aren't using the higher strings which tend to sound like crap in full chords. Lastly, they're punchy in the bass end and leave 'space' for other instruments or vocalists in the mix.