why exactly are power chords called power chords
what makes them powerful
-F
re: misinformation
@terrana That gave me a good chuckle, thanks.
-F
@Felthry Their power comes from being just the root note and a fifth, rather than needing the three notes of a normal chord! (Though they're often played with a note an octave above or below the root.)
Their power comes from the root and fifth having frequencies that are in close to a 3:2 relationship, so you also get this partial tone, especially on amplified music, an octave below what's 'actually' being played, so you have this strong bassy sound that's relatively easy to play.
@Austin_Dern but why is that powerful? you have just two notes there instead of the greater intricacies you can get by adding a third, second, fourth, or seventh
-F
@Felthry You have to call it *something*.
I don't know why the term 'power chord' was settled on (I can't find an etymology of it), but since its big popularity came with a high-energy rock music (eg, the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me') leaning into what amplifiers could do to the 'pure' notes, I wouldn't be surprised if it's because it's a kind of chord that gets a great sound on electric, that is, powered, instruments.
misinformation
@Felthry Power chords are so named because their harmonics produce extra feedback through the amplifier, allowing it to draw less energy from its power supply for the duration of the chord.
With a big enough amp, the effect can be strong enough that rock concerts can be used to generate electricity for the local area.