Suspended Chords

Root C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B Chord Major Minor Diminished Augmented Major 7th Dominant 7th Minor 7th Half Diminished 7th Diminished 7th Suspended 2 Suspended 4 Major 6th Minor 6th

Formula

Spatial Degrees

C Dominant 7th

Spatial

Major triad with m7

Degrees

1 3 5 b7

Symbols

C7, Cdom7

Active Formula

1 3 5 b7

C Dominant 7th selected

Suspended chords are powerful tools for composers, adding tension, emotion, and intrigue. They create anticipation and resolution by altering specific notes in major or minor triads. Represented as “sus” chords, they replace the third note with the second (sus2) or fourth (sus4) note of the scale, generating compelling tension.

The sus4 chord replaces the third note with the fourth, resulting in a combination of the root, fourth, and fifth notes. For example, in the key of C major, a C sus4 chord is formed by replacing the third with the fourth (F): C, F, and G. It adds an open and anticipatory sound, deviating from expected tonal resolution and adding intrigue.

On the other hand, sus2 chords replace the third note with the second, infusing the chord with a dreamy and introspective quality. This substitution brings serenity and calmness, diverging from traditional tonal resolution.

Suspended chords find applications across various genres like folk, pop, jazz, and rock music. In rock, sus4 chords build tension before powerful resolutions, intensifying the impact of choruses or climactic sections. In jazz, suspended chords serve as colorful substitutions, adding complexity to progressions and improvisations.

Suspended Chords often function as transitional or passing chords, leading to more stable major or minor chords. Transitioning to traditional triads effectively resolves the tension, providing a satisfying sense of completion for the listener.

In conclusion, suspended chords enhance compositions with tension, emotion, and depth, whether it’s the unresolved intrigue of sus4 chords or the introspective allure of sus2 chords.

Suspended Chord Formulas

Chords	Major Scale Degrees
Major	1   3   5
Suspended 4	1   4   5
Suspended 2	1   2   5
Dominant 7th	1   3   5   b7
Dom 7th Sus4	1   4   5   b7
Dom 7th Sus2	1   2   5   b7

Chords	Symbols
C Suspended 4	Csus	Csus4
C Suspended 2		Csus2
C7 Suspended 4	C7sus	C7sus4
C7 Suspended 2		C7sus2

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