Power Chords to Key

So ive been trying to use the chordes to scale tool on this site and when i put in all power chords it cant come up with any scales. how do i figure out what key to put my chords in can i just use the root note?

power chords are ambiguous in that they are neither major nor minor, so thats probably why the tool couldnt come up with any scales for you.

Here's an interesting little factoid: A power chord (or "fifth chord") is technically not a chord at all.

The definition of a chord is "three or more distinct note names sounded simultaneously"... that is, three or more distinct notes played at the same time.

For example, an A Major triad: A C E
Or a C Minor 7th chord: C Eb G Bb

When you play a power chord, you only play the root and the fifth of the scale, and sometimes the octave, which technically makes it an interval, not a chord. ;)

Boy, common practice period guys must be rolling in their graves listening to us play nothing but parallel 5ths AND parallel octaves.

yeah I'm pretty sure they aren't a real chord either but they still sound good, I prefer the darker type of root and third note though

you should still be able to use the tool are you choosing the "5" as the chord? For example E5 is also known as a powerchrod with notes E and B

If you still having trouble it may becuase of 2 things, you have too many chords and it cant find the right scale or you have 2 few chords.

I'm putting stuff in and i'm not having any trouble.

To the OP: If you want to play power chords in key, just play the root note's power chords.

In moderation, power chords are great. However, if you construct an entire song from them, things get very old very fast.

Also, a facepalm on my part is in order. The A Major triad is A C# E, not A C E (which is minor).

@ASTION




Power chords can be used in the whole song. But if you have an acoustic guitar playing real chords along with it, it's badass.

if its a song with acoustic guitars yeah, power chords get boring.

I like it when Rise Against do acoustic versions and they make it a whole chord instead of a power chord that is pretty fuckin cool

Call them 5th chords or you'll sound like a n00b. Anyway, 5th chords are neither major or minor so they really have no home key.

Call an interval a chord and you'll also look like a n00b :P

Who was calling intervals a chord?

You said call them 5th chords or you'll sound like a n00b.

But they are actually intervals, not chords (chords have at least three unique notes)

Oh crap, Big screw up

The root note in a chord to me is every note you have your finger on .The options are endless, Bring up a major scale second key of E at the bottom click four notes of a scale or full it pretty much shows you everything. I would bring up that playing the scale backwards in reverse from bottom to top is also interesting( helps with fingering)

@Littlewing - don't worry about it

When you have a 5th interval, you can use a specific mode over it to imply a specific chord. For example: A5. Use a A Ionian, your imping an A major chord.