Sus 2 Chords Theory
The Sus2 (suspended 2nd chord) has a beautiful sound, and when used in the correct context can significantly improve the feel and progession of a chord sequence.
Character of the Sus2 chord
The Sus2 chord has an ambigious feel, it is not clearly "happy" or "sad". It does not possess a resolved feel e.g. you would be unlikely to finish a song on a Sus2
Sus2 Chord Notated
If you were playing a C major chord, a Sus2 would be written as "Csus2". A "C2" is slightly different, as this implies that the third is also present in the chord. So C2 would be C-D-E-G.
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Csus2 chord notated
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Theory - how to work out any Sus2 chord.
A Sus2 is based on a major chord, so begin by working this out first.
Next, move the middle note (if you are playing a C major this will be the "E" note) down 2 steps to D. You should now be playing C - D - G. That's it! Csus2
Make sure that when you count down you include every key, except the first one.
Csus2 chord
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A Sus2 chord is short for "Suspended second". Usually (but not always) suspensions in music resolve - in this case to the third. For example, Csus2 may then be followed by C major. Here the middle note is resolving upwards, from D to E. The "suspense" of the Sus2 is finding a resolution, or sense of completeness, on the E note.
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So in summary, to work out the sus2 chord - 1. work out the major chord. 2. count down two semitones from the middle note.
A common misunderstanding
Often musicians (mistakenly) believe that a Csus2 and a Cadd9 are the same chord. This is not strictly correct. Although Cadd9 also contains a "D" note, Cadd9's are usually played with the third as well. So a Cadd9 will be C - E - G and D, where as Csus2 is just C - D - G (no E).
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