• KAP54
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  • From: London Ontario Canada
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
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Topic: Power Chords

Hi Jerome.
I have a some tunes that I would like to post but I don't know how to put on Chordie that a power chord is played and what dictates what the key is.Is a power chord the use of just two strings three frets apart?
The same question applies to the traditional blues chords(combination power chord along with your pinky?).How do you put this on Chordie.I think I have it described right but not sure.
Thanks Tons
KAP54

Just Keepin on Keepin on
Martin DC15E
Cort MR710F
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  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
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Re: Power Chords

Hi KAP54,
Jerome will probably have a better answer, but a power chord is simply a root note and the 5th above the root (a 5th is 7 half-steps above the root). Sometimes the root tone is doubled one octave above.  Power chords simply omit the 3rd from the normal chord structure.

I believe the way to notate a power chord is with the root note and a 5 - - - so, an 'A' power chord would be A5. A 'G' power chord would be G5, etc.

These Root + 5th chords are also called 'open', 'bare', or 'empty' fifths in traditional musical naming. Shape Note singing (like the old Sacred Harp & Southern Harmony hymnal stuff) uses open 5th harmonies extensively.

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  • KAP54
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  • From: London Ontario Canada
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Re: Power Chords

Thanks James.
Is the root note the first note played (in my case with the index finger)?
Sorry if I sound dumb but me thinks me am.
KAP54

Just Keepin on Keepin on
Martin DC15E
Cort MR710F
Squire Strat (Chinese)
  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Power Chords

Yep, the root is the first note - you got it!

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

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  • KAP54
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Re: Power Chords

Thanks...I think. LOL So if you were to play an A5 rock and roll chord or a blues chord,would the second half of the chord be called A7?
KAP54

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Cort MR710F
Squire Strat (Chinese)
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Power Chords

James got it.

In open tuning, I prefer a three string power chord.  The octave is right next to the 5th, so you can fret it easily, and have Root - 5th - Octave.  That lets you bang away even harder without worrying about pronging that pesky string next to the 5th.

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