From the course: Music Theory for Songwriters: The Fundamentals

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The suspended chord

The suspended chord

From the course: Music Theory for Songwriters: The Fundamentals

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The suspended chord

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- There is one type of chord you can create by voice leading a single note within the major scale that I haven't discussed. And that's the suspended chord or sus chord. A sus chord is formed when the third of a triad is replaced by the fourth or second of the scale. This creates a tonically ambiguous sound, making the listener feel suspended in time until the suspension is resolved by moving down or up the third. Let's listen to a couple of examples of sus chords. So you can hear what they sound like before we examine the theory that creates them. (sus chords reverberating) The two most common sus chords are the sus2 and sus4. In the sus2, the second is played in place of the third. (sus chords reverberating) And in the sus4, the fourth replaces the third. (sus chords reverberating) Let's take a look at the sus chord I just played, Dsus4. You'll recognize this chord instantly as a major chord when I resolve the fourth…

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