What is a Power Chord?

A power chord is a simplified type of chord commonly used in rock, metal, and punk music. It typically consists of just two notes: the root note and the perfect fifth. Sometimes the root note is also repeated an octave higher to make the chord sound fuller. Because it does not include a third, a power chord is neither major nor minor.

Power chords are often played on electric guitar using distortion or overdrive. The absence of the third helps the chord maintain a strong and clear sound even with heavy amplification. For example, a G power chord usually includes the notes G and D, and sometimes another G an octave above.

These chords are especially popular in rock and metal because they produce a powerful and aggressive sound while being easy to move along the fretboard. Guitarists often shift the same finger shape up and down the neck to create different chords quickly. Because of their simplicity and strength, power chords are a fundamental element of many modern guitar riffs and rock songs.