The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello,

You more experienced players will get a kick out of this. I downloaded a chord chart recently that called for a Dsus4 chord (rapid changes between G and Dsus4). I panicked. When I figured out what a Dsus4 was I had a good laugh. This is the chord between D and G on the 10th fret. Dsus4 is simply B pedal only. We all have played this as a transition over and over. There are more Dsus4 chords as follows:
<font size="3" face="monospace"><pre>
Dsus4 chords (aka Gsus2)

1------------------------------------------------------------------
2-------------------------5D---------------------------------------
3---1---------------------5B------6--------10B---------------------
4---1C-1C----------3------5-------6E-------10--10------------------
5---1C-1C-1A-------3--------------6A-------10--10---10-------------
6------1--1---1---------------5B-------6-------10B--10B--10B-------
7---------1---1----3--3--------------------------------------------
8---------------------3-------5--------6E-----------10---10--------
9-----------------------------5------------------------------------
10------------1A------3----------------6A----------------10--------
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<p ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b">[This message was edited by Dayton Osland on 12-26-99]</FONT></P>

Hopefully this chart will read better:

<font size="3" face="monospace"><pre>
Dsus4 chords (aka Gsus2)

1------------------------------------------------------------------
2-------------------------5D---------------------------------------
3---1---------------------5B------6--------10B---------------------
4---1C-1C----------3------5-------6E-------10--10------------------
5---1C-1C-1A-------3--------------6A-------10--10---10-------------
6------1--1---1---------------5B-------6-------10B--10B--10B-------
7---------1---1----3--3--------------------------------------------
8---------------------3-------5--------6E-----------10---10--------
9-----------------------------5------------------------------------
10------------1A------3----------------6A----------------10--------
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Nice post. I know that I have licks that use those 6th fret chords that you've listed, but I wouldn't have thought of them when listing Dsus4 chords.

I don't understand the "G sus 2" reference.
Can someone fill us in ?
-John

I was also thrown off by "Gsus2." I don't think that it's (technically) correct. G2 I understand, but I don't think it's really a suspended chord.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dean Forshee on 01 January 2000 at 07:30 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hello,

A suspended chord has the third replaced by another note. In a sus4 that is the 4th and in a sus2 it is the 2nd. I have seen the sus2 in several alternative rock songs. I just found it interesting that the Dsus4 is the same as the Gsus2 -- just like C6/Am.

I use a program called Nut Chords 32 to help play with chords. It has both a keyboard and standard guitar fretboard for checking chords. Its freeware from Sami Saarnio. I don't have a URL for this though.

Dayton

I must beg to differ about the nature of the third in sus chords.
Often, the third is left out in favour of the 4th tone, but it is not "replaced by".
Many Sus4 chords still contain the third.
In the examples I've seen, if one wants the 2nd tone without the third, it's just called "add 2".
-John

I have seen "sus2" chords in some of the newer music. A keyboard player recently gave me a chart with a Gsus2 in the arrangement. I played a G add2 (no 3rd)and it matched his chord perfectly. We were both playing the same notes, so this could just be a case of misnomer.

Maybe some musicians believe that calling it a "sus" chord implies leaving out the third. I guess if enough people use a certain term to mean something, it becomes accepted.

dougb
www.dougbsteel.com

<font size="3" face="monospace"><pre>
C : C E G
C sus4 : C FG
C sus : C FG (sus means sus4)
C sus2 : CD G
C add4 : C EFG (rare)
C add2 : CDE G
C add9 : CDE G
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In some cases the difference between add2 and add9 would be where you put the D; "add9" suggests that you might put it on top but in practice this is not always the case.

heres the link i did search i did..

mark dole
http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/Nut_Chords_32_win95/

A sus4 or susanything refers to a note that appears in both the chord in question and the previous chord. Usually the suspended note is tied across the measure bar and resolved (if it's resolved) in the bar following the tie. A note that does not appear int the previous chord is not a suspension but an "add" note. example...A 5th fret "A" chord played with the B pedal down is an add 4. The adds are not aslways chord tones. They can but don't have to replace any particular chord tone although the sound of a major chord add4 with the 3rd included is a bit cluttered. If the note in question Keeping with the 4th is on the top end of the chord it's likely an octave higher than the third and so it would be an add11 rether than fourth.