theory (sus)

[shokl8]

can someone tell me what a sus chord is and y its needed im tryn to learn this stuff. thanks

[betnich]

Major Chord = scale steps 1 3 5 
(in C = C E G )

Suspended Chord = scale steps 1 4 5
(Csus = C F G )

Suspended 2nd Chord = scale steps 1 2 4 5
(Csus2 = C D F G )

Suspended 7th Chord = scale steps 1 4 5 b7
(Csus7 = C F G Bb )

Suspended chords in CCM usually resolve to the Major chords (Csus -> C - think 'A----men') but in Jazz/Gospel they can hang out by themselves...

[T-Block]

can someone tell me what a sus chord is and y its needed im tryn to learn this stuff. thanks

A suspended chord is simply a chord with a suspended note in it. You name the chord by the note being suspended. So, u can read through the example posted by betnich.

Also, sus chords are not really needed, but they are great chords to add to your arsenal. They provide some awesome sounds. Experiment with them to see which ones you like.

[betnich]

Nice to see you, T-Block.

Guess the Bb/C is a type of (Csus7M9) suspended chord. Guitarists would go with the name in parentheses, but as a keyboard player I think in terms of LH-Bass and RH-chords, so to me it makes sense to think of the entire (Bb) chord, suspended over a C bass.

I use these a lot...

[jude63]

so in Csus....C-F-G, I would think the F is suspended, T Block said the chord gets its name from the note thats suspended so is the C suspended?, I can hear the tension it creates

[funkStrat_97]

so in Csus....C-F-G, I would think the F is suspended, T Block said the chord gets its name from the note thats suspended so is the C suspended?, I can hear the tension it creates

Your are correct.  The suspended note is indeed the F (sus. 4).  C is the root.  The suspended note would be reflected in the chord name as a number; ie. sus2 or sus4 accordingly.

[jude63]

cool, thanks for explaining that, I see what T was saying

[T-Block]

so in Csus....C-F-G, I would think the F is suspended, T Block said the chord gets its name from the note thats suspended so is the C suspended?, I can hear the tension it creates

Yeah, u would have to call that Csus4. I'm glad it's making sense to you.

[pilotprogram]

For any theory minded folks

I did some study of suspended 7th chords recently.  I understand they are used mostly in dominant 7th chords to suspend the melody on the 5.  I also notice that the suspended chords formed from the scale degree 2, 3, 6 chords are just like the dominant 7th chord suspended form because the "formula 1-???-5-b7" is transforming the ???=3 to either the 2nd or 4th degree of the scale.  Is there many songs that use the suspended chords heavily on these other degrees to suspend the melody. Or is it primarily used as a secondary dominant if used in these cases which I come across the most?

Thanks.

[floaded27]

also when you invert the sus2 and sus4 chords, you see that they are stacked in perfect 4ths (or 5ths depending on  how u look). theres a lot to work with there. not sure how yet. still exploring those.

[T-Block]

also when you invert the sus2 and sus4 chords, you see that they are stacked in perfect 4ths (or 5ths depending on  how u look).

Nice observation. In all my years of playing those 2 chords, I never noticed that.

[floaded27]

Nice observation. In all my years of playing those 2 chords, I never noticed that.

i was watching this Jamal Hartwell vid on youtube with him breaking down "More than Anything" (i think the link was posted either here or in the keyboard forum) and he talked about using perfect 4ths for a walk down, and then i go "wait a minute, thats nothing but an inverted suspended chord" but the sweet part is playing with other notes in the bass than what u got in that chord, which is what he did.

the cool thing is that either the sus2 or sus4 chord is a diatonic chord for EVERY degree (for some its both), except the 7. So u can play just about the whole zipcode in suspended chords and not step out of the key sig with any note, not even once. actually im gonna go play around with that when i get to rehearsal tonight.

[T-Block]

Interesting, very interesting. I will definitely be experimenting with this.

[pilotprogram]

i was watching this Jamal Hartwell vid on youtube with him breaking down "More than Anything" (i think the link was posted either here or in the keyboard forum) and he talked about using perfect 4ths for a walk down, and then i go "wait a minute, thats nothing but an inverted suspended chord" but the sweet part is playing with other notes in the bass than what u got in that chord, which is what he did.

the cool thing is that either the sus2 or sus4 chord is a diatonic chord for EVERY degree (for some its both), except the 7. So u can play just about the whole zipcode in suspended chords and not step out of the key sig with any note, not even once. actually im gonna go play around with that when i get to rehearsal tonight.

Right. Because it's a diatonic chord you will come across suspended chords that are flattened or raised in the scale.  For example on the third degree of the C major scale the sus 2 chord is E - F - B and in the major scale of E F is sharpened as in F#. So in the C major scale that F is flattened and should be accorded as E sus b2.

The same happens with the fourth degree of the C major scale.  If we are to allow a suspended destination this chord should be noted as F sus #4 since the B in F major scale is flattened as Bb.

Maybe I got it wrong but I agree with your assessment.

   

[Blessingss]

Interesting, very interesting. I will definitely be experimenting with this.

Hey these sound very nice to me & seem to work 'everywhere'. I accidentally found myself doing them like 1-4-5-1 (sus4) over different bass notes and it's quite an awesome experience.