power chord
noun
: a combination of two tones consisting of a root and its fifth that is often used in rock music
Examples of power chord in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to the performers, hip-hop founder DJ Kool Herc and inventor of the power chord Link Wray will receive the musical influence award.
—
Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 3 May 2023
The same category sees the induction of Link Wray, the distortion guitar rock rebel credited with inventing the power chord.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 3 May 2023
Over the past two decades, he's become a one-man army advancing the ukulele cause, turning the four-string axe into a supremely pliable musical vehicle, capable of generating everything from power chord rock to sensuously swinging jazz.
—San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Jan. 2023
As essential to the genre as a power chord is to hard rock.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022
An electric guitarist unleashes a series of triumphant power chords as fans hold their smartphone cameras aloft, the glowing screens dotting the darkened concert hall like fireflies.
—John Blake, CNN, 15 Oct. 2019
Brahms is also the primordial master of classical rock and roll, with his jagged and rhythmically obsessive power chords, and Langrée had the string section slash its way through such passages with strokes of an appropriate near-violence.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 31 July 2019
But all that music really came to life in concert, thanks to Mercury’s big voice and powerful strut, coupled with May’s hooky power chords and symphonic solos.
—Noel Murray, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2018
Minus a few rocking power chords, the cover is initially identical to the original.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 29 May 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 3 May 2023
The same category sees the induction of Link Wray, the distortion guitar rock rebel credited with inventing the power chord.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 3 May 2023
Over the past two decades, he's become a one-man army advancing the ukulele cause, turning the four-string axe into a supremely pliable musical vehicle, capable of generating everything from power chord rock to sensuously swinging jazz.
—San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Jan. 2023
As essential to the genre as a power chord is to hard rock.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022
An electric guitarist unleashes a series of triumphant power chords as fans hold their smartphone cameras aloft, the glowing screens dotting the darkened concert hall like fireflies.
—John Blake, CNN, 15 Oct. 2019
Brahms is also the primordial master of classical rock and roll, with his jagged and rhythmically obsessive power chords, and Langrée had the string section slash its way through such passages with strokes of an appropriate near-violence.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 31 July 2019
But all that music really came to life in concert, thanks to Mercury’s big voice and powerful strut, coupled with May’s hooky power chords and symphonic solos.
—Noel Murray, The Verge, 2 Nov. 2018
Minus a few rocking power chords, the cover is initially identical to the original.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 29 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Power chord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power%20chord. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share