Chord (music)

In music and music theory, a chord (from the middle English cord, short for accord) is three or more different notes or pitches sounding simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, over a period of time. For example, if you simultaneously play any three (or more) keys of a piano, you have just played a chord. Likewise, if you simultaneously play three or more strings of a guitar, you have just played a chord on the guitar. Every chord is given a specific name, based on the notes that constitute the chord and the distances, or intervals, between them.

Other types of chords

"Power chords" consist of perfect fifths and fourths and may be considered triads which lack the third and thus double the root or fifth to create a third note. The lack of the third makes their quality ambiguous. Popularized by heavy metal music they are used extensively in many kinds of rock music, especially (see below). Polychords are two or more chords superimposed on top of one another. See also altered chord, secundal chord, and Tristan chord.

Related Topics:
Power chord - Heavy metal music - Rock music - Polychord - Altered chord - Secundal chord - Tristan chord

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