The Csus guitar chord produces a mysterious & versatile sound that captures the imagination of guitarists and listeners alike. While “Csus” typically refers to the Csus4 chord, a favorite in the guitarist’s toolkit, there’s another variant that deserves the spotlight: the Csus2.
Both chords weave a tapestry of tension and release, but each with its own unique flavor. In this comprehensive guide, we not only unravel the music theory behind these captivating chords but also provide you with 5 different ways to play each Csus2 and Csus4, ensuring you have a total of 10 variations to enhance your playing.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, you’ll find the keys to mastering these chords here. Let’s embark on this musical journey and unlock the secrets of Csus chords.
Suspended Chords
In music, “sus” is short for suspended. A suspension is a note that is not a part of the chord played to create tension.Â
For example, with the Csus4 chord, the F really wants to move down to the E. This creates a sense of resolution, as the chord changes to C major. (CEG)Â
When you are resolving sus4 chords, you only need to move the 4th of the chord down a half step to create a major chord.
Sus chords are often used in quick bursts moving back and forth between sus4 and major chords. This sounds really good and creates a sense of movement without really changing the chord!
Variety is the spice of life, and sus chords are the spice that makes the average major chord just a bit more interesting!
CSus Chord Theory (Csus2 & Csus4)
Suspended chords like Csus2 and Csus4 add a layer of suspense and resolution to music, replacing the defining third of a chord with a note that leaves the listener waiting for completion.
Our comparative table below succinctly captures the unique qualities and uses of these two chords, offering a clear understanding of their role in creating dynamic guitar progressions.
| Feature | Csus2 | Csus4 |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | C, D, G | C, F, G |
| Intervals | Root, Major 2nd, Perfect 5th | Root, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th |
| Purpose | Csus2 can be used to create a sense of anticipation or tension that resolves to a C major chord. It replaces the third of the C major chord with a major second. | Csus4 also creates tension that typically resolves to a C major chord. It replaces the third of the C major chord with a perfect fourth. |
| Usage | Csus2 is often used in popular and rock music to add color and texture to a chord progression. | Csus4 is commonly used in various genres, including pop, rock, and folk, for a suspended, unresolved sound. |
By suspending the third, both Csus2 and Csus4 create a compelling tension that is usually resolved by returning to a more stable, familiar major or minor chord, such as C major with its notes C, E, and G.
How To Play CSus4 Guitar Chord
Here’s 5 ways to play Csus4. Remember that these are not ALL the ways to play it. Can you find more? When you play these Csus4 chords, try to resolve to C major to hear how the two chords counteract each other.
CSus4 Open Chord
CSus4 Barre Chord
Alternate Ways To Play CSus4
How To Play CSus2 Guitar Chord
Maybe you really wanted to learn how to play Csus2. In that case, here are 5 practical ways to play the Csus2 guitar chord.
CSus2 Open Chord
CSus2 Barre Chord
Alternate Ways To Play CSus2
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 Csus chord on guitar?
Csus usually refers to the chord Csus4. It might also mean Csus2, that is why it is important to specify which chord you mean.
What is the major chord of Csus?
The major chord of Csus is C major! Try playing these chords back and forth with each other!
What is a Csus2?
The Csus2 guitar chord is a lot like a C major chord, except it uses the 2nd scale degree instead of the 3rd. So it’s CDG, not CEG.
Why do suspended chords sound so good?
In general, movement and context is what makes chords sound good. By themselves, sus chords are full of tension and anticipation. They only sound good when you’ve resolved them. In a sus 4 chord, the 4th scale degree is an unstable sound, and by resolving it down to the 3rd as in a major chord creates a satisfying sense of finality and stability.
What does Csus4 mean?
Csus4 is short for C suspended 4th. What this mEans is that you are temporarily replacing the E in a C major chord for an F. This is of course with the intention of moving it back.
Conclusion
“Sus” is short for suspended. A suspension is a note that is not a part of the chord played to create tension. In music, sus chords are used to add flavor to simple major chords. You can use either sus4 or sus2 chords to do this.The Csus4 chord has the notes C F G. It is built using the root, 4th, and 5th of the C major scale.
It is typically played alongside C major.
The Csus2 chord has the notes C D G. It is built using the root, 2nd, and 5th of the C major scale. While this chord is still slightly dissonant, it is stable enough to work independently of a major chord. Although you can still resolve it up to a C major chord if you want to – trust your ear!
