Suspended chords

The 3rd is what makes a chord major or minor. A SUSPENDED chord removes the 3rd and replaces it — the result is neither happy nor sad, but open and unresolved.

SUS2: replace the 3rd with the 2nd → 1, 2, 5. SUS4: replace it with the 4th → 1, 4, 5.

"Suspended" because the chord feels like held breath: a sus4 wants its 4 to fall to the 3, resolving into the plain chord. Play Csus4 then C and you will hear it immediately.

sus2 = 1 · 2 · 5 · sus4 = 1 · 4 · 5

Csus4: C–F–G. The F wants to resolve down to E.

Practise this in the trainer — it opens with this lesson the first time the concept comes up.