Chord reference
Suspended fourth
1 – 4 – 5 · example: Csus4 = C – F – G
The third replaced by the fourth. Traditionally it resolves down to the third.
Written as a formula it is 1 – 4 – 5: the degrees of the major scale it keeps, with any that are altered marked. On C that gives Csus4 = C, F, G.
How it is built
- Gfourth
- Fperfect
- Croot
The intervals above the root
| Chord tone | Interval above the root | Semitones | Note in Csus4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perfect unison | 0 | C |
| 4 | Perfect fourth | 5 | F |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | G |
Inversions
The same notes can be stacked in any vertical order. The chord keeps its name; what changes is which note is in the bass. See chord inversions for why that matters.
| Position | Notes | Written as |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | C – F – G | Csus4 |
| First inversion | F – G – C | Csus4/F |
| Second inversion | G – C – F | Csus4/G |
This chord on every root
| Root | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C | Csus4 | C – F – G |
| D♭ | D♭sus4 | D♭ – G♭ – A♭ |
| D | Dsus4 | D – G – A |
| E♭ | E♭sus4 | E♭ – A♭ – B♭ |
| E | Esus4 | E – A – B |
| F | Fsus4 | F – B♭ – C |
| F♯ | F♯sus4 | F♯ – B – C♯ |
| G | Gsus4 | G – C – D |
| A♭ | A♭sus4 | A♭ – D♭ – E♭ |
| A | Asus4 | A – D – E |
| B♭ | B♭sus4 | B♭ – E♭ – F |
| B | Bsus4 | B – E – F♯ |