Editing Power chord (section)

==Terminology==
[[Image:C indeterminate chord.png|thumb|In a triadic context, chords with omitted thirds may be considered "indeterminate" triads.<ref name="Benjamin">Benjamin, et al. (2008). ''Techniques and Materials of Music'', p.191. {{ISBN|0-495-50054-2}}.</ref> {{audio|C indeterminate chord.mid|Play}}]]

Theorists are divided on whether a power chord can be considered a ''chord'' in the traditional sense, with some requiring a "chord" to contain a minimum of three degrees of the scale. When the same interval is found in [[Traditional music|traditional]] and [[Classical music|classical]] music, it would not usually be called a "chord", and may be considered a [[Dyad (music)|dyad]] (separated by an [[Interval (music)|interval]]). However, the term is accepted as a pop and rock music term, most strongly associated with the overdriven electric guitar styles of [[hard rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[punk rock]], and similar genres. The use of the term "power chord" has, to some extent, spilled over into the vocabulary of other instrumentalists, such as [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]] and [[synthesizer]] players.

Power chords are most commonly notated ''5'' or ''(no 3)''. For example, "C5" or "C(no 3)" refer to playing the root (C) and fifth (G). These can be [[Inversion (music)|inverted]], so that the G is played below the C (making an interval of a fourth). They can also be played with octave doublings of the root or fifth note, which makes a sound that is subjectively higher pitched with less power in the low frequencies, but still retains the character of a power chord.

Another notation is '''ind''', designating the chord as "indeterminate".<ref name="Benjamin"/> This refers to the fact that a power chord is neither major nor minor, as there is no third present. This gives the power chord a [[chameleon]]-like property; if played where a major chord might be expected, it can sound like a major chord, but when played where a minor chord might be expected, it can sound minor.