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


johnbiggs
New Member
Joined: 12/31/02
Posts: 3
johnbiggs
New Member
Joined: 12/31/02
Posts: 3
01/02/2003 2:45 am
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
# 1
noticingthemistake
Crime Fighter
Joined: 08/04/02
Posts: 1,518
noticingthemistake
Crime Fighter
Joined: 08/04/02
Posts: 1,518
01/02/2003 3:43 am
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:-----
"My whole life is a dark room...ONE BIG DARK ROOM" - a.f.i.
# 2
Azrael
Gargoyle Instructor
Joined: 04/06/01
Posts: 2,093
Azrael
Gargoyle Instructor
Joined: 04/06/01
Posts: 2,093
01/10/2003 8:29 am
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]

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# 3
griphon2
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Joined: 08/14/02
Posts: 297
griphon2
Senior Member
Joined: 08/14/02
Posts: 297
01/21/2003 1:05 am
Always least is best for power and loudness. One person with an amp or 30 people with one note.
A lie goes around the world before the truth gets it's shoes on. (Mark Twain)
# 4
Kevin Taylor
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 03/05/00
Posts: 4,722
Kevin Taylor
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 03/05/00
Posts: 4,722
01/21/2003 6:59 am
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.
# 5

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