HearmonySus Chords Explained: Sus2 vs Sus4 and How to Hear Them
A sus chord (suspended chord) replaces the third of a major or minor chord with either the second or the fourth note of the scale. Csus2 is C D G and Csus4 is C F G, where C major would be C E G. Without a third, the chord is neither major nor minor, which gives it that open, unresolved sound.
What is a sus chord?
A sus chord is a three-note chord built from a root, a fifth, and a second or fourth in place of the third. The third is the note that makes a chord major or minor, so taking it out leaves a sound that floats between the two.
| Root | Major | Sus2 (1–2–5) | Sus4 (1–4–5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C E G | C D G | C F G |
| D | D F♯ A | D E A | D G A |
| E | E G♯ B | E F♯ B | E A B |
| F | F A C | F G C | F B♭ C |
| G | G B D | G A D | G C D |
| A | A C♯ E | A B E | A D E |
The formula is the same in every key: for sus2, the note a whole step above the root; for sus4, the note a perfect fourth above it (five half steps). Notice that Fsus4 needs B♭, not B, to keep that fourth perfect.
What's the difference between sus2 and sus4?
Sus4 sounds tense and leans toward resolving, while sus2 sounds open and airy and can sit still. The difference comes from where the replacement note wants to go.
In Csus4, the F sits just a half step above E, so it pulls strongly down to E and the chord "wants" to become C major. In Csus2, the D is a whole step below E; it can rise to E, but the pull is weaker, so a sus2 chord often stays as a color in its own right.
One curiosity: sus2 and sus4 chords can contain identical notes. Csus2 (C D G) and Gsus4 (G C D) are the same three notes. Which name is right depends on the bass note and the chords around it: if G is in the bass and the chord resolves to G major, call it Gsus4.
Why are they called suspended?
The name comes from the suspension, an old technique in counterpoint. A note from one chord is held over, or suspended, into the next chord, where it clashes, and then it steps down to a chord tone.
The classic case is the 4–3 suspension at a cadence: over a G bass, the C from the previous chord is held (G C D), then falls to B (G B D). That is Gsus4 resolving to G major, written out centuries before chord symbols existed. The suspension entry on Wikipedia shows the pattern with notation.
In pop, rock and jazz, sus chords no longer have to resolve. Guitarists often use them simply for their sound.
Are sus chords major or minor?
Sus chords are neither major nor minor, because they lack the third that decides it. That makes them flexible: Csus4 can resolve to C major (F falls a half step to E) or to C minor (F falls a whole step to E♭). Csus2 can move up to either one as well.
Two related chords are easy to confuse with them:
- Add9 chords keep the third. Cadd9 is C E G D: the D is added, not swapped in. Csus2 (C D G) has no E.
- 7sus4 chords add a seventh. G7sus4 is G C D F, common as a softer dominant chord in gospel, soul and jazz. How it relates to the plain dominant 7 is covered in seventh chords.
Songs that use sus chords
Sus chords are everywhere in guitar music, because many of them are one finger away from an open major chord. These are easy to hear:
- "Pinball Wizard", The Who: the acoustic guitar riff rocks between Bsus4 and B.
- "Free Fallin'", Tom Petty: the riff moves D, Dsus4, D, A in guitar shapes, played with a capo on the third fret so it sounds in F.
- "Wonderwall", Oasis: the familiar chord chart uses Dsus4 and A7sus4, which give the strumming its hanging, unfinished feel.
On guitar, Dsus4 is D major with the first string moved from the second fret (F♯) to the third fret (G), and Dsus2 is D major with that string played open (E).
How to tell sus2 from sus4 by ear
The quickest way is to hear what the chord does next. Play these on a piano app, slowly, a few times each:
- C – Csus4 – C (C E G, then C F G, then C E G). Listen for the middle note pressing up and then sighing back down a half step.
- C – Csus2 – C (C E G, then C D G, then C E G). The middle note drops a whole step and comes back; the sus chord sounds hollow rather than tense.
- Play Csus2, Csus4 and C major in random order and name each one. Have someone else play them if you can.
If a chord sounds hollow and calm, guess sus2. If it sounds like it is holding its breath, guess sus4. Then check by playing C major right after it.
A good three-day plan: day one, exercises 1 and 2 only; day two, add the random quiz with just Csus4 and C major; day three, all three chords. Once those are easy, mix in minor chords too, as in the wider guide to identifying chords by ear.
Practice sus chords in Hearmony
Hearmony's Chord Garden adventure has a unit called Suspended. It opens by playing Csus2, Csus4 and C major side by side, then quizzes you on telling the three apart and spotting the odd chord out. The Garden Mix unit after it puts sus2 and sus4 together with major, minor, diminished and augmented chords. If chords are new to you, start with major vs minor chords or the ear training exercises for beginners plan.