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While watching to some guitar covers I found this chord that looks similar to a power chord. In the cover the guitarist played it on the second and fourth fret. It looks like this:

Chord on fret 2

Chord on fret 4

Images generated with chordgenerator.

I want to know how this chord is called. I also want to know how the system behind is working so I am able to write tabs myself with it. It looks like it has a similar system like the power chords with the root note. Where could I place this chord so it sounds good?

Furthermore, is it possible to play this with three notes like a "big powerchord". With big power chord I mean like in this sequence:

|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|-------3-------6---|
|---3---3---6---6---|
|---3---1---6---4---|
|---1-------4-------|
2
  • 2
    As to your three note question, that should work fine because the highest note is just an octave of the lowest so the interval relationships are essentially the same. But the power chords you tabbed are just standard 5 chords. To get them closer to the original chords you mentioned it would be 1-4-3 and 4-7-6 (on E-A-D or A-D-G strings respectively).
    – charlie
    Sep 30, 2014 at 16:22
  • 3
    This is still a powerchord. There are many kinds. The common ones are a fifth, but many bands use all manner of powerchords - just listen to Faith No More for a wide variety.
    – Doktor Mayhem
    Sep 30, 2014 at 17:13

1 Answer 1

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This is an interval of a minor sixth. Nameable chords usually need three notes in order to define them. A single interval can be a component of a number of chords. So, for this reason the naming of this chord would depend upon harmonic context; in other words, which other notes, if any, sound with it.

However, the interval of a minor sixth is commonly perceived as the first inversion of a major chord, without a fifth. So, in this case, this would be a first inversion E Major chord without the fifth, having a G# at the bottom, an E above, and no B.

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  • minor 6th = inverted major 3rd.
    – Tim
    Sep 30, 2014 at 7:54
  • Yes @Tim, that is a much more succinct way of putting it!! Sep 30, 2014 at 8:45
  • +1 to Bob and Tim. The one place I'm sure it's used, and used as a chord's third below the root, is the intro to "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC. Sep 30, 2014 at 10:55
  • I always associate it with One Vision by Queen... Sep 30, 2014 at 10:56
  • @BobBroadley Thank you for your help! Could you please take a look at my question? I have edited it a little bit to refer to more questions that are connected with this.
    – Gerret
    Sep 30, 2014 at 13:24

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