Introduction
Suspended Chords (or Sus Chords) are chords where the 3rd has been replaced by a 2nd or (usually) 4th. These create a much more ambiguous and floating sound.
- Basic G Triad = G B D
- Gsus2 = G A D
- Gsus4 = Gsus = G C D
The sus4 chord is much more common than the sus2 chord, so the ‘4’ is often dropped. So if you see just a sus chord with no number after it, it implies a sus4 chord.
Suspended Chords
In Jazz, sus chords act as substitutes for ii or V7 chords and are usually extended to 9sus or♭9sus chords (we will discuss♭9sus chords in the next lesson).
- Dm7 = D F A C
- G9 = G B D F A
- G9sus = G C D F A
However, these are generally voiced as:
- F/G =
- LH: G
- RH: F-A-C
- Dm7/G =
- LH: G
- RH: D-F-A-C
As you can see, there is only one note difference between the Dm7 and G9sus (the G) and a G7 and G9sus (the C). So, in a sense, the sus chord is half way between a ii (Dm7) and a V7 (G7) chord, which is why it can act as a substitute for both. So for example, if we take a II-V-I in the key of C, we can substitute in the G9sus chord in as follows:
| ii | V | I |
|---|---|---|
| Dm7 | G7 | CMaj7 |
| G9sus | G7 | CMaj7 |
| Dm7 | G9sus | CMaj7 |
| Dm7 - G9sus | G7 | CMaj7 |
| G9sus | G9sus | CMaj7 |
Suspended chords create an interesting and, dare I say, suspenseful sound and are used quite often in modern jazz. Further, just because the sus chord replaces the 3rd with a 4th DOESN’T mean you can’t play the 3rd as well. You can also play a 3rd in a sus chord (though you should place it above the 4th in your chord voicings otherwise it will sound like a G11 chord and thus quite dissonant).
We will encounter the idea of using intervals of 4ths rather than 3rds to build chords again when we discuss So What Chords and Quartal Voicings.
In Practice
You will occasionally see sus chords written out in lead sheets. However, you can also use them like a regular chord substitution over a dominant chord. In fact, they can be quite useful because while the ♮11 is an unavailable tension over the regular V7 chord; it is a chord tone over the V7sus chord. Therefore you have one extra note you can use over a V7sus chord compared to a V7 chord.
Have a Listen to
- Maiden Voyage ~ Herbie Hancock
- Dolphin Dance ~ Herbie Hancock
- Passion Dance ~ McCoy Tyner
- Eight-One ~ Ron Carter