You’ve probably come across a chart at some point and saw a Dsus2 or Asus4 chord. The “sus” is short for suspended.

Major, minor, and dominant 7 chords can be suspended.

You can suspend any major, minor, or dominant chord by removing the third in favor of the perfect fourth or major second.

If the chord is major or dominant, move the major third up a half step to the perfect fourth to get a sus4. Move the major third down a whole step to the major second to get a sus2.

If the chord is minor, move the minor third up a whole step to the perfect fourth to get a sus4. Move the minor third down a half step to the major second to get a sus2.

The third is an important chord tone because it defines the chord as major or minor. Without it, the chord has a more ambiguous sound.

You can combine the sus2 and sus4 with the parent chord to make chord fills.

There are numerous ways to use suspended chords. Here are some song examples.

Tangled Up in Blue: Bob Dylan
Crazy little Thing Called Love: Queen
Free Fallin': Tom Petty
Fake Plastic Trees: Radiohead
One Hand in My Pocket: Alan's Morrisette
Old Love: Eric Clapton
Wild World: Cat Stevens
Closer to Fine: Indigo Girls
Pinball Wizard: The Who
What I Am: Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Happy Xmas(War is Over): John Lennon
Alive: Pearl Jam
Every Breath You Take: The Police

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