Suspended 4th Chord - Sus4

The Suspended 4th Chord (Sus4) is a triad that replaces the major or minor third with a perfect fourth. The notes are: root, perfect fourth, and perfect fifth. Its sound is 'suspended', 'unresolved', and creates a clear expectation of movement, typically resolving to the third (major or minor) of the chord. It is extremely common in pop, rock, folk, and jazz for its intrinsic ability to generate tension and then resolve it, creating a sense of 'breathing' or progressive movement in harmony. Sometimes it is used as a persistent color that does not resolve, maintaining harmonic ambiguity and a sense of indeterminacy. It is a very versatile and recognizable chord.

Common Progressions

• Isus4 - Imaj (or Isus4 - Imin): the classic resolution of the suspension, very effective and satisfying to the ear)
• V7sus4 - V7 - I (the sus4 on the dominant then resolves to the 'normal' dominant before going to the I, an omnipresent progression in pop and jazz)
• IV - V - Isus4 (used as a momentary arrival point before the final resolution, creating a melodic and harmonic anticipation)