Banjo · Level 3 · Beginner

Suspended chords on Banjo

Isus4–I–Isus2–I in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Sus chords replace the third with the second or fourth note, creating a moment of tension that resolves back to the plain chord. They add movement without changing the bass.

Choose a key

C majorCsus4 · C · Csus2 · CD♭ majorD♭sus4 · D♭ · D♭sus2 · D♭D majorDsus4 · D · Dsus2 · DE♭ majorE♭sus4 · E♭ · E♭sus2 · E♭E majorEsus4 · E · Esus2 · EF majorFsus4 · F · Fsus2 · FF♯ majorF♯sus4 · F♯ · F♯sus2 · F♯G majorGsus4 · G · Gsus2 · GA♭ majorA♭sus4 · A♭ · A♭sus2 · A♭A majorAsus4 · A · Asus2 · AB♭ majorB♭sus4 · B♭ · B♭sus2 · B♭B majorBsus4 · B · Bsus2 · B

Listen first: C major

Csus4

C suspended fourth

Notes: C · F · G

gDGBD

C

C major

Notes: C · E · G

gDGBD

Csus2

C suspended second

Notes: C · D · G

gDGBD
1
Csus4
2
C
3
Csus2
4
C

Why it works

Without a third, a sus chord is neither major nor minor. The fourth wants to fall to the third; the second wants to rise to it.

On another instrument

Suspended chords on Guitar →Suspended chords on Piano →Suspended chords on Ukulele →Suspended chords on Mandolin →Suspended chords on Violin →Suspended chords on Flute →

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