The guitar chord A sus is a suspended chord. Asus refers to the chord Asus4. Suspended chords replace the 3rd of the chord with the 4th scale degree.
The other type of sus chord, Sus 2 chords, replace the 3rd of the chord with the 2nd scale degree. Tension and resolution are core concepts in music, and the A sus chords are utilized for just that; building tension to resolve back to the A Major chord.
In this article we will explain the theory behind the Asus and A sus 2 chords and include chord charts for different ways to play them. Read on to learn the a sus guitar chords!
A Sus 4 Music Theory
- The A sus chord contains 3 notes: A D E
- Asus 4 is created by replacing the 3rd of the A Major chord with the 4th, or C# with D
- Qualities of Asus4 are dramatic, unstable, and tension building.
- The main function of the Asus 4 chord is to create tension, this is because the 4th scale degree has a tendency to resolve downward to 3.
- Asus4 is almost always played before A Major.
How To Play The Asus4 Guitar Chord
If you know your A major chords, try playing an A maj- A sus – A maj chord progression with all of these voicings. (I’ll give you a hint: there is only a one note difference!) Train your ear to hear this progression and really get used to the sound of resolving a sus chord.
A Sus Open Chord
- Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
ASus Barre Chord
- Place your Index finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string.
- Place your middle finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string.
- Place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string.
- Place your pinky on the 7th fret of the 3rd string.
Other Ways To Play ASus4
- Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string and barre.
- Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
- Place your index finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string.
- Place your middle finger on the 9th fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your ring finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
- Place your pinky on the 10th fret of the 1st string.
ASus2 Guitar Chord
A sus 2 is also a sus chord, it is just slightly different then that of a sus 4…
ASus2 Chord Theory
- Asus 2 has the notes A B and E.
- Asus 2 is created by taking the 3rd of the A major chord and replacing it with a 2nd. (or C# for B)
- A sus 2 sounds more stable than A major.
ASus2 Open Chord
- Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
- Palace your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
ASus2 Barre Chord
- Place your index finger on the 12th fret of the 5th string and barre.
- Place your ring finger on the 14th fret of the 4th string.
- Place your pinky on the 14th fret of the 3rd string.
Other Ways To Play A sus2
- Place your index finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string and barre.
- Place your ring finger on the 9th fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your pinky on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
Learn To Play Other Suspended Guitar Chords
| Letter | Suspended Chords |
|---|---|
| A | Asus2, Asus4 |
| B | Bsus2, Bsus4 |
| C | Csus2, Csus4 |
| D | Dsus2, Dsus4 |
| E | Esus2, Esus4 |
| F | Fsus2, Fsus4 |
| G | Gsus2, Gsus4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sus chord on guitar?
A sus chord is a chord that is made from the 1 – 4 – 5 scale tones of a major scale. As opposed to the typical 1 – 3 – 5 of the major triad. These two chords are often played respectively.
What is the sus chord rule?
The rule for building sus chords is 1 – 4 – 5. The rule for building sus 2 chords is 1 – 2 – 5.
Relate: How To Play The Gsus Chord On Guitar
What is the hardest guitar chord ever?
Some sources say that the F Barre chord is the most difficult, but I disagree.
There are theoretically thousands of possible chords to play on the guitar but many voicings are near impossible because of the fingerings, that’s why we see the same ones over and over again.
Any chord that requires a long stretch over many frets and strings is difficult for me. When they are paired with a barre then they are fatality.
The augmented and diminished triads, for example, are rarely played because of how terribly inconvenient they are.
What is the sus 4 chord on guitar?
Is a sus chord same as sus4?
Yes! Although there are 2 types of sus chords, sus often refers to just one type: the sus 4 chord. Pretty confusing, huh? The sus chord won’t be a sus2 unless specified.
Related: Learn The Guitar Chord Esus
Conclusion
The term Asus usually refers to the guitar chord Asus 4. However there are actually two different a sus chords. The Asus 4 chord contains the tones A D E and the Asus 2 contains the tones A B E.
While both can be used to resolve to A Major, Asus2 is stable and pleasing enough to be played by itself or even in replacement of A Major.
Playing a sus chord before resolving to a major chord is the context in which sus chords are used in music; remember to practice your sus chords along with major chords to train your ear!
