Related Chords
Explore chords that share the same key as the C Fifth chord.
The C fifth chord, commonly known as the C power chord, is a foundational element in rock, metal, and punk music. Unlike traditional major or minor chords, power chords consist of only two notes—the root (C) and the perfect fifth (G)—omitting the third entirely. This creates a neutral, aggressive sound that works equally well over major or minor progressions, making it incredibly versatile in heavy music contexts. Power chords are especially prevalent in guitar-driven music where distortion amplifies their thick, powerful tone without the muddiness that thirds can introduce. Pioneered by Link Wray in his revolutionary 1958 track "Rumble," the C5 power chord became a defining element in Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" riff, where Tony Iommi used it on the 3rd fret with palm muting to create one of metal's most recognizable sounds. Acoustically, the perfect fifth interval (frequency ratio 3:2) produces strong harmonic overtones that reinforce each other when amplified through tube amplifiers, explaining why power chords sound fuller than their two-note structure suggests. In drop D tuning, C5 shifts to the 10th fret on the low E string, becoming a single-finger barre chord favored in modern metalcore and djent for rapid chord changes alongside D5, F5, and G5 progressions.
Explore chords that share the same key as the C Fifth chord.