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30-day guitar challenge, day 13: Learn suspended chords

By Adrian Clark
( Guitarist )
published 13 August 2015

Sus4 and sus2 shapes sussed out

Esus2

Esus2

30-day guitar challenge: The sus4 is a familiar seasoning to many a chord progression, but why not look further into suspensions?

There are two basic types, the suspended 4th and the suspended 2nd (sus2). Here’s a simple, if stretchy, sus2 shape.

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
A9sus4

A9sus4

This 9sus4 has a lovely jazzy, Steely Dan kind of sound. Shift it up three frets for a mid-70s Motown feel.

Unlike a standard sus4, it’s in no hurry to resolve to a straight major chord.

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
G7sus4

G7sus4

Is it? No, it isn’t! Sharp-eared archivists have established that the Hard Day’s Night chord is a lot more complex than this, with several layers. It’s not bad as a compromise, though.

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Esus#4

Esus#4

You can theoretically also suspend the augmented 4th (the tritone) for this menacing metal-friendly sound.

Perfect for soloing over with E Lydian (E F# G# A# B C# D#).

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Adrian Clark
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