Sus2 vs Sus4 Chords
A suspended chord swaps out the note that makes a chord major or minor — the third — for its neighbour. Csus2 uses the 2nd (C–D–G); Csus4 uses the 4th (C–F–G). Both hang in the air, neither happy nor sad.
No third, no verdict
The third is what your ear reads as "major" or "minor" (see major vs minor). Suspended chords remove it, so the ear can't decide — the chord feels open and expectant. Csus2 is airy and bright; Csus4 is fuller and more tense, because the 4th (F) sits just a half step above the third it replaced.
Suspension and resolution
The magic is in the release. Let the suspended note step to the third and the chord "lands" on plain C major: the F of Csus4 drops to E, or the D of Csus2 rises to E. That tiny move — tension then relief — is one of the most-used gestures in pop, rock and worship music.
Explore both
Browse every root in the sus2 and sus4 libraries, then train your ear on them in Chord Rush.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sus2 and a sus4 chord?
A suspended chord replaces the third of a triad with another note. A sus2 replaces the third with the second: Csus2 is C–D–G. A sus4 replaces it with the fourth: Csus4 is C–F–G. Because neither has a third, both sound open and unresolved — neither major nor minor.
Why do suspended chords sound "unresolved"?
The third is the note that tells your ear whether a chord is major or minor. Remove it and replace it with the 2nd or 4th and the chord loses that certainty — it hangs, waiting. That is why a sus4 so often resolves down to the plain major chord, releasing the tension.
How do you resolve a suspended chord?
Move the suspended note to the third. In C, the F of Csus4 falls to E to become C major; the D of Csus2 rises to E for the same result. That gentle step is the classic "suspension and resolution" you hear all over pop, rock and worship music.