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Chord · Reference entry

C♭ Power

Power · C♭ – G♭ · intervals P1-P5

The C♭ Power chord (C♭5) contains the notes C♭ and G♭. Its interval formula is R-P5. Just the root and 5th — no 3rd, no major/minor identity, the staple of distorted rock guitar.

At the keyboard

Cb · Gb
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on C♭ Power
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C♭5

The C♭ Power chord is a two-note chord made up of C♭ and G♭. It is built from a root and perfect fifth.

Construction

C♭ Power = Root + Perfect 5th = C♭ · G♭
NoteIntervalDegree
C♭Root1
G♭Perfect 5th5

C♭ Power Inversions

Cb Power piano chord, 1st inversion — G♭, C♭
The Cb Power chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionC♭ – G♭
1st InversionG♭ – C♭
2nd Inversion

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the C♭ Power is the tonic (I) chord of Cb Major, whose key signature has 7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭).

B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

BEADGCF

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Chords in the Key of C♭ Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the C♭ major scale:

C1C2C3C4BC5C6C7C8D♯F♯
IB Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IB MajorMajor
2iiD♭ MinorMinor
3iiiE♭ MinorMinor
4IVE MajorMajor
5VG♭ MajorMajor
6viA♭ MinorMinor
7vii°B♭ DiminishedDiminished

C♭ Power — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the C♭ Power chord on piano?
The C♭ Power chord contains the notes C♭ – G♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Cb Power chord?
The Cb Power chord (Cb5) contains 2 notes: Cb, G. Formula: R-P5.
How is Cb5 used in music?
Cb5 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for Cb5?
Cb5 uses scale degrees 1-5, giving it its distinctive sound.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    George Grove (ed.)(1900)

    A Dictionary of Music and Musicians

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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