What Are Suspended Chords (Sus2 and Sus4)?

• A suspended chord replaces the 3rd of a major or minor chord with either:
• The 2nd degree (sus2) or
• The 4th degree (sus4) of the scale.

This creates a more open, ambiguous, or floating sound, because without the 3rd, the chord isn’t clearly major or minor.

Example:

• A Major = A - C# - E (C# = 3rd)
• Asus2 = A - B - E (C# replaced by B)
• Asus4 = A - D - E (C# replaced by D)

Chord Diagrams and Positions for Guitar

Let’s go chord-by-chord: A, D, G, and E. I’ll give you three useful voicings/positions across the neck for each chord type.

“Pinball Wizard” – The Who

Main Progression: Asus2 – Dsus2 – Esus4 – E

This progression repeats throughout the song. (or alternately up one 'tone' starting on Bsus2

How it works:

• The suspended chords give it a punchy, jangly sound.

• The Esus4 resolves into E for that satisfying tension/release effect.

“Free Fallin’” – Tom Petty

Progression: D – Dsus4 – D – Asus4 – A

This song is built on suspended chords — the sus4s add emotional movement without making the harmony too busy.

D: x x 0 2 3 2
Dsus4: x x 0 2 3 3
A: x 0 2 2 2 0
Asus4: x 0 2 2 3 0

“April Sun in Cuba’” – Dragon

Asus4  x02230 or x07750
A      x02220 or x07650

This movement of D to C# characterises the verses

The rest of the song is: 

D      xx0232 or x5777x
A/C#   x4222x
Bm     x24432
G      320003
Gmaj7  3x0002 or 3x0032
Bm7/A  x00202 or x0977x

Quick Tip:

• Try resolving sus chords by moving from sus2 or sus4 to the major chord. That resolution creates emotional movement.

• Example: Asus4 → A, Dsus2 → D, etc.