8,720
edits
Changes
m
Their Suspended chords sound is slightly tense but quite harmonicbut do not indicate a clear tonality, which may make them feel tense or unresolved in certain contexts.
no edit summary
{{Intermediate Lesson Crumbs|6}}
A <u>'''suspended chord</u> ''' uses a major 2nd or perfect 4th in place of the major/minor 3rd normally found in triads. Suspended chords have an abbreviated name of sus2 or sus4. For example, Csus2 is (C D G) while Csus4 is (C F G). They are called suspended because the M2 or P4 is usually carried over from the preceding chord then resolved to the 3rd, ''suspending'' the full resolution.
== PreReqs ==
}}
The M2 interval that occurs between the root and 2nd in sus2 and 4th and 5th in sus4 is slightly dissonant, but another way to look at it is to think of the 2 as a 9, so you have root, 5th, 9th. The 9th is a perfect 5th above the 5th, so you have basically stacked fifths.
}}
Suspended chords are often used to prolong the full resolution from in a progression. For example, when resolving from the 2nd note of the key is found in the iii, V, or vii{{dim}} (or III, v, or VII in minor) chords. Rather than resolve these chords to the tonic chord of , we can resolve to the key, sus2 chord with the 2nd tonic note of as the key is found in all those chordsroot. The other notes resolve, while This carries over that 2nd sustains, forming the sus2 chord on the tonic chordnote, preventing a full complete resolution. After sustaining the sus2 long enough, the 2nd resolves up to the 3rd, making the I (or i) and completing the resolution.
For the sus4, the same thing happens with the 4th note of the key, when resolving from a ii or IV chord to I (ii{{dim}} or iv to i in minor). The 4th resolves down to the 3rd.
E--------------------
Another common usage is to alternate between sus2, sus4 and the major or minor chord with the same root. This adds a little melody into the harmony. This can be heard most predominantly in '''''Kansas''''' 's ''Dust in the Wind'' and '''''Led Zepplin''''' 's ''Tangerine''. However, it's important to distinguish that similar cases aren't often true suspensions, with the major/minor 3rd actually being played by another instrument or in a different octave. Then the effect is similar to a 9th or 13th chord, which we will cover later.
Am Asus4 Am Asus2 E