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> This might be a bit confusing as written, because the slash "/" is normally used in roman numerals to indicate secondary chords.

Sorry, that's not something I'd seen. Edited the post to switch to "or".

> The terminology "open chords" is also a bit unusual. The term "open chords" usually refers to chords that use open strings (strings that are not fingered).

Looking some, you're totally right. I'm confused where I picked up the idea that these were called "open"? I think I've seen them written like "G<sub>open</sub>" to indicate that you don't play a 3rd? Calling them "power chords" in a non-rock context sounds off to me, though. Edited the post to call them chords without thirds.



> Calling them "power chords" in a non-rock context sounds off to me, though

Even jazz musicians call them powerchords


Every guitar player calls them powerchords. I've never heard of another term. Unless OP is referring to double stops. But, those are more of an embellishment, and usually never played on the low E or A string.


Jazz, rock, and pop guitarists and keyboardists all call 5 chords power chords.


Most people would also understand that there's no 3rd if you call it a G5.


I'd call that an "open 5th". That might come from a classical pov.


That makes sense! I'd probably turned "open fifth" into "open chord"


power chords ... call them chords without thirds.

Not a guitarist, but I always assumed "power chord" referred to lots of doubling up over octaves, not the absence of a third.


It almost always refers to a perfect fifth, optionally with the octave on top. It's a very easy thing to play with two or three fingers, either on guitar or keyboard.


> Calling them "power chords" in a non-rock context sounds off to me, though.

Lots of powerchords in pop too. "powerchord", to me at least, implies that there is a distortion effect somewhere in the signal chain. Powerchords on their own sounds really weak.


When playing mandolin I rarely play thirds (https://www.jefftk.com/p/mandolin-teaching-videos), but I'm also playing traditional music, acoustic, where "power chords" sounds strange?


Outside of rock or guitar world, it is very unusual to hear them be called "power chords". That lingo is best avoided.


Co-incidentally the first graph looks like a pair of 'hand-horns'.




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