Welcome to the most recent installment of Chord by Chord, a series designed to develop your understanding of consistency and the fretboard. In the last lesson we went over chords with suspended fourths. This time we’ll deal with sus2 and 7sus2 chords.
You need to already understand that a major triad is made up of the three notes: the root, the third, and the 5th. In a sus2 chord, you simply replace the third with the second. Example 1 offers the notes in a C major triad (C E G), while Example 2 reveals a Csus2 chord (C D G).
Example 3a reveals how to go from a C triad to Csus2 utilizing open chords. Notice just how much of a distinction that a person note makes. Example 3b portrays how to make a Csus2 chord from a C utilizing barre chords. You could also shift in between these 2 chords by just removing your 4th finger.
If you remember, a dominant seventh chord is built from a major triad with the flatted seventh. To make a 7sus2 chord, once again, simply swap out the 3rd for the 2nd. Example 4 gives us the notes in a C7 chord (C E G Bb) and Example 5 shows a C7sus2 (C D G Bb). Attempt obtaining C7sus2 from C utilizing open chords (Example 6a) prior to carrying on to barre chords (Example 6b). In Ex. 6b, simply eliminate your 4th finger to get to the C7sus2.
Next, repeat the same procedure for G and D triads and seventh chords (Examples 7a– 10b). Keep in mind that in the G sus chords, the note A (2nd) changes B (3rd), and in the D sus chords, E (2nd) replaces F# (third).
You should now understand how to play numerous sus2and 7sus2 chords. A great tune that features a Dsus2 chord is Jethro Tull’s “Wond’ring Aloud.” Next time, I’ll teach you your most complex chord yet, the major ninth.
