Suspended Chords
Pull the 3rd out of a triad, and you get a chord that's neither major nor minor — just open, floating tension waiting to land somewhere.
What is a suspended chord?
A regular triad gets its major or minor identity entirely from its 3rd. A suspended (sus) chord removes that 3rd and replaces it with a neighboring scale degree — the 2nd or the 4th — leaving a chord with no major/minor quality at all.
Sus2 vs sus4
| Chord | Notes (root-2nd/4th-5th) | C example | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sus2 | 1, 2, 5 | C-D-G | Open, airy |
| Sus4 | 1, 4, 5 | C-F-G | Tense, wants to resolve |
Common questions
What is a suspended chord?
A chord that replaces the 3rd with the 2nd (sus2) or 4th (sus4), removing the major/minor quality for an open, ambiguous sound.
What is the difference between sus2 and sus4?
Sus2 is root-2nd-5th; sus4 is root-4th-5th. Sus4 sounds more tense and eager to resolve; sus2 sounds more open and airy.
How does a suspended chord resolve?
The suspended note steps down into the 3rd, turning it into a regular triad — Csus4 to C major as F moves to E.
Do suspended chords have to resolve?
No — modern pop, rock, and worship music often leave them unresolved for their open color alone.
Hear sus chords on your instrument
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