In the chord of a perfect fifth the higher note is also the primary harmonic of the lower note, and this largely explains why the chord when used consecutively has been felt in classical circles to undermine the distinctive identities of the two "voices." The determined effort to erode consecutive fifths from classical/romantic music was probably driven by a perceived need to set that genre above, or at least apart from, the previously prevailing music "vernacular," of folksong and minstrelry.

It has sometimes been used deliberately to achieve specific effects, for instance the medieaval effect in Vaughan Williams' fantasia on Greensleeves. And the chord is invaluable when tuning a violin classical style, the strings being tuned to perfect fifths.