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Harmony

Fifth

also called “perfect fifth”also called “power chord”
The short version

The strong, hollow-sounding interval seven semitones up.

A little more

C to G. It's so stable that it sounds neither happy nor sad — which is why rock guitarists play root-and-fifth power chords and let the distortion do the talking.

Hear it
Why you'd careFifths reinforce a root without committing to a mood. Great for bass lines and huge sounds.
Learn next
ThirdThe middle note of a chord — the one that decides major or minor.IntervalThe distance between two notes.DominantThe chord built on the fifth note of the key — it wants to go home.ConsonanceNotes that sound settled and agreeable together.

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