Sus chords
There are sus2 and sus4 chords. In sus2 chords, the third is replaced by the second, and in sus4 chords, the third is replaced by the fourth. Sometimes the name of the chord is written as "Csus" without any 2 or 4. In this case, you should treat it as a Csus4.
Sus chords are particularly common in pop music. Sus is an abbreviation of ´suspension ´. What happens in theory is that the second note in the chord is replaced, as already mentioned. It can also be seen as the third is "suspended". In Dsus4, for example, F# is suspended and replaced with G (Dsus4) or E (Dsus2).
Common sus chords
Csus4
Dsus4
Dsus2
Esus4
Gsus4
Asus4
Asus2
More chords
Sus2 chords (Csus2)
Sus4 chords (Csus4)
7sus4 chords (C7sus4)
Barre sus chords
How to use the sus chords
Alternating between the sus and original chord
As always in music, there are many ways to tackle things. A very common procedure, however, is to alternate between the original chord and the sus chord of the same root note. For example: D to Dsus and back to D ...
D – Dsus4 – D – Dsus2 – D
(This figure can be found in the intro to Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”.)
A – Asus2 – A – Asus4 – A – Asus2 – A
(This riff can be heard in the Tom Petty song “Feel a Whole Lot Better”.)
A chord progression you can try to get a sense of how sus chords can function together with their original chord is:
E – Esus4 – E – D – Dsus4 – D – A – Asus4 – A
The examples show a common concept for this chord category. The sus chords are not used instead of the major chord but together with it. When playing these kinds of chord progressions, you should often avoid to lift all your fingers when the chord changes (from major to sus and vice versa). If you are using the correct fingerings you can often lift one finger or add a finger depending on the chord.
As substitution for the major
The suspended chord can also be used instead of the major (or minor) counterpart:
Am - Gsus4 - F
D - Asus4
C - Asus2
In the end of a verse line
Another way to use suspended chords are in the end of a verse line and perhaps before the shift to another song part, as in the example below:
Cm - Bb - F - Gsus4
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Suspended chord inversions
Suspended 4th and 2nd chords are possible to play in numerous configurations, including two inversions.
Csus4 can be used as an example:
- C - F - G (root position)
- F - G - C (1st inversion)
- G - C - F (2nd inversion)
To indicate that a chord is played inverted it is written as slash sign before the bass note. For example, the first inversion of the Csus4 chord is written Csus4/F and the second is written Csus4/G.
Here's a chord progression that shows an idea for incorporating sus inversions:
Bbsus/F (XX334X) – Bb/F (XX333X) – Csus4/G (XX556X) – C/G (XX555)
Fingerings follow below in short notation for a large collection, mostly in open positions:
Csus4/F: XX301X
Csus4/G: XXX011
Dsus4/G: 300033
Dsus4/A: X00233
Esus4/A: X02200
Esus4/B: X22200
Fsus4/Bb: X13311
Fsus4/C: X33311
Gsus4/C: XXX533
Gsus4/D: XX0013
Asus4/D: XX0230
Asus4/E: 002230
Bsus4/E: 024450
Bsus4/F#: XX4450
The difference between suspended 4th and suspended 2nd
The sus4 chords are often used in combination with its major counterpart. For example, in progressions Dsus4 often come before D major. The reason for this is that the sus4 chord resolves well to its parallel major. As in the following chord sequence:
D – G – Asus4 – A – D
Since the sus2 chord is neither major or minor it can be used in progression when an indefinite sound is wished for. As in the following chord sequence:
C#m – E – Bsus2 – A
Rare suspended chords
Finally, here are some rare variations in this chord family:
D6sus4: XX0203
E6sus4: 002220
E6sus2: 024600
G6sus4: 330030
Note that E6sus4 is identical with A/E.
Suspended 4th 2nd chords
Another variation is a merge of the sus4 and sus2. These chord names are traditionally written like this:
In other layout settings, they can simply be written as sus4sus2 or sus4,sus2.
Here are examples of sus4,sus2 chords:
Csus4,sus2: X3303X
Dsus4,sus2: XX0253
Esus4,sus2: 002202
Fsus4,sus2: XX3313
Gsus4,sus2: 300013
Asus4,sus2: X00200
Bsus4,sus2: X24420
Note that sus4,sus2 is similar to sus4,add9 (sus4add9) and is quite similar to add9, add11.
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