Suspended Harmony Essential Sus Chords

Suspended chords create some of the most beautiful and emotionally stirring moments in music by replacing the traditional major or minor third with either a second or fourth interval, leaving the harmony "suspended" in musical tension that begs for resolution. Unlike major and minor chords that feel complete and settled, sus chords create an sense of anticipation and movement that makes them invaluable for songwriting and arrangement. This collection introduces you to the most practical sus2 and sus4 chord shapes, focusing on forms that work seamlessly with the open chords you already know. These eight essential suspended chords will add sophisticated harmonic color to your playing while teaching you how chord extensions and alterations function in real musical contexts. The beauty of sus chords lies in their versatility—they can substitute for major or minor chords in progressions, creating instant sophistication without requiring advanced technique.

D Sus2

This open position sus2 chord demonstrates how replacing the F# (major third) with an E (second) transforms the familiar D Major into something ethereal and unresolved. The combination of open strings creates natural resonance that makes this chord particularly effective in fingerpicking patterns and acoustic arrangements.

A Sus2

Built by simply lifting your third finger from the standard A Major shape, Asus2 shows how suspended chords often require less finger work than their major counterparts. This chord's bright, ringing quality makes it perfect for creating movement within progressions and demonstrates how small changes create dramatic harmonic shifts.

G Sus2

This unique fingering showcases how sus2 chords can span the entire fretboard while maintaining open string resonance. The wide finger stretch required develops fret-hand flexibility while the resulting harmony creates a distinctly modern sound that works beautifully in both rock and folk contexts.

B Sus2

Your first barre-style sus chord, Bsus2 introduces moveable suspended harmony while building on the partial barre technique from basic barre chord study. This shape demonstrates how suspended chords function in higher registers and provides a template for creating sus2 chords anywhere on the neck.

D Sus4

The classic sus4 sound that appears in countless rock and folk songs, this chord creates tension by replacing the major third with a perfect fourth. Dsus4 often appears as a passing chord or embellishment to D Major, teaching you how suspended harmony creates forward motion in chord progressions.

A Sus4

Perhaps the most commonly used sus chord in popular music, Asus4 adds just one finger to the basic A Major shape while creating entirely new harmonic possibilities. This chord frequently appears in rock ballads and acoustic songs, demonstrating how sus chords bridge the gap between simple and sophisticated harmony.

E Sus4

This powerful open position sus4 chord uses the same fingering pattern across three adjacent strings, creating a full, resonant sound perfect for strumming. Esus4 shows how suspended chords can provide rhythmic emphasis while adding harmonic interest to basic chord progressions.

G Sus4

A moveable barre chord form that demonstrates how sus4 harmony functions in closed position voicings. This shape requires coordinated finger pressure across multiple strings while teaching you how suspended chords work when all notes are fretted rather than incorporating open strings.

Ready to build your own Collection? It's as simple as browsing our library and clicking the icon.

Learn About Collections