Sus Chords


the sus4 Chord

Sus chords: The most common of these is the sus4 chord, which is referred to simply as "sus".

If you familiar with sheet that uses chord symbol notation, you have probably seen the the term "sus". This does not mean sustained, it means "suspended."

These chords have an unresolved, unsettled or "suspended" effect which is created by replacing the 3rd of the chord with the 4th. Instead of 1-3-5, we have 1-4-5.

So a G chord is G-B-D and a G sus is G-C-D. Likewise, a G7 is G-B-D-F and a G7sus is G-C-D-F. In each case the 3rd of the chord is replaced with the 4th. Here are some examples:

sus chords

Sometimes the "unresolved" or "suspended" quality of these chords is settled or resolved when the 4th moves to the 3rd.

Listen to the example below: note how each sus chord resolves when the 4th moves to the 3rd (D → C#; G → F#; A → G#; D → C#)

sus chords

the sus2 Chord

The sus2 chord follows the pattern 1-2-5. So, a G chord is G-B-D and a Gsus2 is G-A-D.

In other words in a sus2 chord, the second, or 2 replaces the 3rd. Sometimes the suspended 2 will resolve to the 3rd.

Listen to this chord progression with that uses sus 2 chords:

sus chords

7th chords - chord inversions - sus chords

extended chords - diatonic triads - diatonic 7th chords

primary chords - secondary chords - secondary dominants


Sheet Music Plus Jazz Music

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