Sus & Add Chords

Sus2, sus4, add9 and their uses

15 min

Suspended Chords

Suspended (sus) chords replace the third with either the 2nd or 4th degree:

Sus2: Root, 2nd, 5th — open, airy, ambiguous
Sus4: Root, 4th, 5th — tense, wants to resolve

Because there's no third, sus chords are neither major nor minor. This ambiguity creates anticipation. Dsus4 → D creates a satisfying resolution that's used in countless acoustic songs.

Add Chords

Add9: Root, 3rd, 5th + 9th (which is the 2nd an octave up). Sounds jangly, bright, open.

Cadd9 is one of the most beautiful and commonly used chords in acoustic guitar — essentially C major with an open D note on top. It's the Wonderwall chord, the Good Riddance chord, the sound of every acoustic campfire song.

Tab Examples

Dsus4       D
e|--3--3--|--2--2--|
B|--3--3--|--3--3--|
G|--2--2--|--2--2--|
D|--0--0--|--0--0--|
A|--------|--------|
E|--------|--------|

Add pinky for sus4, lift it for the resolution to D.

e|--0--|
B|--3--|
G|--0--|
D|--2--|
A|--3--|
E|-----|

C chord with the D note (string 2, fret 3) added. Beautiful.

Chord Diagrams

Dsus4

X X O

Cadd9

X O O

Tips

Sus4 resolves beautifully to the regular major chord — use them as ornaments

Cadd9 is one of the most beautiful acoustic guitar chords

The jangly sound of add9 chords defines the acoustic singer-songwriter tone

Practice Exercises

Learn Dsus4, Dsus2, Asus4, Asus2, and Cadd9

Play D-Dsus4-D-Dsus2-D as an acoustic embellishment

Replace C with Cadd9 in any progression — hear the shimmer

Try G-Cadd9-Em-Dsus4-D with fingerpicking