Julie Swihart

Suspended Chords

Let’s look at how to play a Dsus chord on the piano. We’ll also learn the pattern for building any suspended chord on the piano.

What Are Suspended Chords?

There are two main types of suspended chords: sus2 and sus4 chords. We’ll look at both kinds:

Sus2 chords are built with the first, second and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

Sus4 chords are built with the first, fourth and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

You can learn how to build a major scale here.

Suspended chords are like major and minor chords in that they have the same lowest and highest notes, but the middle note has been changed.

Since the middle note of a major or minor chord is how your ear distinguishes these chords from each other, leaving that note out and replacing it with the second or fourth note of the matching major scale creates a suspended sound.

Chord Types Printable

Learn to play 17 types of piano chords using 12 different root notes with this 34-page PDF! Chords are sorted both by their root note (C, D, E, etc.) and type (major, minor, augmented, diminished, etc.).

Get the Printable

How to Play a Dsus2 Chord

Now let’s build a Dsus2 chord on the piano. We’ll play the first, second and fifth notes of the D major scale: D – E – A

D – E – A

You can use this pattern to build any suspended second chord. Just play the first, second and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

How to Play a Dsus4 Chord

Now let’s look at how to play a Dsus4 chord on the piano. We’ll play the first, fourth and fifth notes of the D major scale: D – G – A

D – G – A

You can use this pattern to build any sus4 chord. Just play the first, fourth and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

Since sus4 chords are more common than sus2 chords, if you see a “Dsus” chord label, and there isn’t a number after it, you can assume it represents a Dsus4 chord.

Other Chord Types

There are many other chord types you can learn. Here are some others:

Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished
Second
Minor Second
Fifth
Sixth
Minor Sixth
Seventh
Minor Seventh
Major Seventh
Ninth
Minor Ninth
Major Ninth

Conclusion

Now you know how to build two Dsus chord types on the piano, and you can use these patterns to build any sus2 or sus4 chord!

Suspended chords are fun to use in place of major and minor chords. They work really well to create variety and depth to music. Depending on where you use them, you may need to resolve back to the major or minor chord you’ve replaced to give the ear resolution. These chords are some of my favorites!