Sus Chords Explained: sus2 and sus4 for Open, Floating Beats
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Sometimes you want a chord that doesn't sound happy and doesn't sound sad, but somewhere in between. Open, a little floaty, as if it isn't quite finished yet. You hear that sound a lot in afro, pop, gospel and melodic rap. There's a good chance a sus chord is doing the work.
In this article you'll learn what sus2 and sus4 chords are, why they sound the way they do, which sus chords fit your key and how to build them in your piano roll in a few clicks. You don't need to read sheet music.
The short answer
A sus chord is a regular chord where the third is replaced by a different note. Sus is short for suspended.
- sus2: the third becomes the second note up from the root. Sounds open and airy.
- sus4: the third becomes the fourth note up from the root. Sounds tense, like the chord still wants to go somewhere.
Because the third is exactly what makes a chord major or minor, a sus chord is neither. That's why it sounds neutral and open.
Why the third matters so much
A regular three-note chord (a triad) is made of the root, the third and the fifth. Count semitones up from the root in your piano roll (every key, white or black, is one semitone) and you get this:
- Major: 0, 4, 7. On C that's C, E, G.
- Minor: 0, 3, 7. On C that's C, E♭, G.
The only difference is that middle note. Take it out and put another note in its place, and the happy or sad character disappears. Read more about that difference in major vs minor explained.
Sus2 and sus4 side by side
Everything below uses C as the root so you can compare. The numbers are semitones above the root.
| Chord | Semitones | Notes | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| C (major) | 0, 4, 7 | C, E, G | happy, stable |
| Cm (minor) | 0, 3, 7 | C, E♭, G | sad, dark |
| Csus2 | 0, 2, 7 | C, D, G | open, airy |
| Csus4 | 0, 5, 7 | C, F, G | tense, wants to resolve |
Easy way to remember it: for sus2 you move the third down until it sits two semitones above the root. For sus4 you move it up one semitone (from major) or two semitones (from minor).
How you'll see them written
You'll usually see sus chords written as Csus2 and Csus4. If it just says Csus, it usually means sus4. Seeing C7sus4? That's a sus4 with a minor seventh on top: C, F, G, B♭. Not sure what a seventh is? Check out seventh chords explained.
Why does a sus4 sound unfinished?
The fourth in a sus4 sits right next to the third your ear expects to hear. That's also where the name comes from: in classical music, the fourth was held over for a moment and then dropped down to the third. You still hear that move everywhere:
Gsus4 (G, C, D) → G (G, B, D)
Only the C drops one semitone to B. Everything else stays put. That tiny step feels like coming home. In pop and in beats, you can just as easily leave a sus chord unresolved. Then it stays open and dreamy.
Which sus chords fit your key?
Not every sus chord uses only notes from your scale. If you want to stay inside your key without any hassle, these are your options. C major and A minor use the same white keys, so this list works for both.
| Type | Fits C major and A minor | Falls outside |
|---|---|---|
| sus2 | Csus2, Dsus2, Fsus2, Gsus2, Asus2 | Esus2 (has F♯), Bsus2 (has C♯ and F♯) |
| sus4 | Csus4, Dsus4, Esus4, Gsus4, Asus4 | Fsus4 (has B♭), Bsus4 (has F♯) |
Working in a different key? Shift everything in your piano roll by the same number of semitones, or look up the chords of your key on chords by key. You're allowed to use a chord that falls outside the scale, by the way. It'll just sound a bit more tense or unusual.
Fun fact: Csus2 and Gsus4 are the same notes
Csus2 is C, D, G. Gsus4 is G, C, D. The exact same three notes in a different order. Which name is right depends on what your bass is playing. If your 808 plays a C, you hear Csus2. If it plays a G, you hear Gsus4. One chord shape, two directions.
Sus2 vs add9: what's the difference?
This one trips a lot of people up. In both cases you hear a D above a C, but there's one big difference:
- Csus2: C, D, G. No third. Neutral and open.
- Cadd9: C, E, G, D. With the third, the D is simply added. Still a major chord, just with more color.
Want it to still sound clearly major or minor? Go with add9 (or madd9 for minor). Want your ear to lose its footing for a moment? Go with sus2.
Three ways to use sus chords in your beat
1. Tension right before the loop restarts
Put a sus4 right before a major chord with the same root. For example, in the last bar of your loop: two beats of Gsus4, two beats of G. That little release pulls the listener back to the top of the loop. Works great under a hook.
2. Open up a minor loop
Take a familiar progression like Am, F, C, G and swap out a few chords:
| Original | With sus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Am | Asus2 | A, B, E |
| F | Fsus2 | F, G, C |
| C | C | C, E, G |
| G | Gsus4 → G | G, C, D → G, B, D |
Same loop, but lighter and floatier. The minor feel now comes mostly from your bass and melody instead of the chords themselves. Handy when your hook feels a little too heavy.
3. Movement inside one chord
Is your loop sitting on the same chord for a long time? Move only the middle note: Csus2 → C → Csus4 → C. The root and fifth stay put while D, E and F take turns. You get a little melody inside your chords without changing chords. Sounds great on guitar, Rhodes or a pluck.
How to build a sus chord in your piano roll
It works the same in every DAW, whether you use FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton or GarageBand.
- Start with regular triads. Click them in yourself or start with the MIDI from the free chord progression generator.
- Find the third. It's the middle note when the chord is in root position: 3 or 4 semitones above the root.
- For sus2: drag the third down until it sits 2 semitones above the root.
- For sus4: drag the third up until it sits 5 semitones above the root.
- Check if it fits. Clashing with your melody or sample? Look at the table above to see if that sus chord is in your key, or try the other type.
Make them sound good in your beat
- Let your 808 or bass play the root. That way your ear still knows where the chord sits, even without a third.
- Spread the notes out. Sus chords sound best open. Keep the root low and move the other notes up an octave for more air.
- Watch your melody. If your vocal or lead hits the third while the chord is a sus4, the fourth and the third will rub against each other. Sometimes that's exactly what you want, just do it on purpose.
- Don't overdo it. One or two sus chords in a loop is often enough. Nothing but sus chords can start to sound vague because your ear has nothing to hold on to.
- Pick a warm or bright sound. Guitar, Rhodes, pads, marimba and plucks show off sus chords well. You'll find them in a few of the loops in afrobeats chord progressions, for example.
Get started faster
In the free chord progression generator, pick a mood, key and tempo, listen right in your browser and download the MIDI with chords plus a bassline on the root notes. Drag it into your DAW, then turn one or two chords into a sus2 or sus4 using the steps above. Working on an existing sample or beat? Find the key first with Beat Lab, so you know which sus chords will fit.
Are you a rapper or singer who'd rather start writing than puzzle over chords? Check out our beats.
FAQ
Is a sus chord major or minor?
Neither. Major or minor depends on the third, and a sus chord doesn't have one. That's why it sounds neutral. Your bass and melody decide how it feels.
What does sus mean?
It's short for suspended. Originally, a note from the previous chord was held over for a moment before it dropped to the third.
What's the difference between sus2 and sus4?
In a sus2 you replace the third with the second note up from the root (2 semitones above it). In a sus4 you replace it with the fourth (5 semitones). Sus2 usually sounds airier, sus4 sounds more like the chord still needs to resolve.
What is Csus without a number?
It usually means Csus4: C, F, G.
Do sus chords work in trap and drill?
Yes, they can. A sus2 on your minor chord makes a dark loop sound thinner and more mysterious. Check the table above to see if that sus chord is in your key, and let your 808 play the root so the loop keeps its weight.
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