[BackToBlack]

Hey guys and gals-
I three quick questions.

1. What does the abbreviation "sus" mean in relation to chords? For example: Dsus2 or Asus4.

2. What does a 5 represent as in A5 or C5?

3. When I see a two chords combined, such as G/B, what does that mean?

Thanks you wise sages!!

[justinthyme]

Here's a non-wise-sage answer:

@ a sus chord replaces the 3 in the chord with a 2 (sus2) or 4 (sus4). It has a 'hanging' quality to it - like it needs to resolve somewhere.

@ a 5 chord is a so-called 'power chord' - no 3 at all, just the 1 and the 5. Its not strictly a chord as there are only 2 notes in it. The root note is frequently doubled with the root next octave up.

@ a G/B (I think these are called slash chords) is a G played with a B in the bass.

HTH

[Fretsource]

Sus means that the chord note 3, present in all major and minor chords has been replaced by either note 2 (sus2) or note 4 (sus4)
D major contains notes D F# A
D sus 2 contains notes D E A
D sus 4 contains notes D G A

A5 is a fifth chord or 'power chord'. It doesn't contain a third (note 3)
A5 contains notes A & E (usually the A is doubled an octave higher
C5 contains notes C & G (usually C is doubled too)

When you see a chord like G/B - it means you play the chord G but make sure the bass note is B, not G

Edit - Ian beat me to it - "must try harder"

[BackToBlack]

Thanks guys-great explanations!!

[eCowboy]

Originally Posted by BackToBlack

Hey guys and gals-
I three quick questions.

1. What does the abbreviation "sus" mean in relation to chords? For example: Dsus2 or Asus4.

2. What does a 5 represent as in A5 or C5?

3. When I see a two chords combined, such as G/B, what does that mean?

Thanks you wise sages!!

"Sus" is the abreviation for the word "suspended".

Rick

[justinthyme]

Originally Posted by Fretsource

Edit - Ian beat me to it - "must try harder"

Ah, but Fret - you ARE one of the wise sages!

[Noodler]

If the chord doesn't say if it is a sus 2 or a sus 4, then I'd assume it is a sus 4. Do you guys agree on that? That is, find the 3rd (the note that makes a chord major or minor), and raise it one semitone.
eg

Esus..........Gsus..........Csus2...........Csus4
---0----------3---------x--------------x
---0----------1---------1--------------1
---2----------0---------0--------------0
---2----------0---------0--------------3
---2----------2---------3--------------3
---0----------3---------x--------------x

Sus 4 or sus 2 resolving to the major always sounds nice, like justinthyme was saying.

[Noodler]

Anyone else have trouble making stretches like E/G# or A/C#? Any tips for that?

If you were playing C/E, would you play the E particularly hard? (it always struck me as weird, cos E is in the C chord anyway). Is the idea of polychords to emphasise the baseline? Do you tend to hit the bass and then strum the chord, or just strum straight on through? Some, like C/E sound "wrong", I mean if you are going to play the 6th string, you hold the G or don't play it, cos it sounds terrible.

Also, how many here use their thumbs for polychords?

[scotty_b]

A slash chord is not necessarily a polychord. For instance, the C/E is really just an inversion, and only one chord is evident there.
A G13b9 on the other hand has a G7 chord within it, as well as an F diminished 7th therein as well.
Composers will use inversions to create a strong bassline that allows for a smooth transition between chords. I believe Mr Bach may have been instrumental in establishing this compositional device. though a more contemporary example would be John Lennon, who often kept a chord and allowed for a bassline to descend over it.

[Fretsource]

Originally Posted by Noodler

If the chord doesn't say if it is a sus 2 or a sus 4, then I'd assume it is a sus 4. Do you guys agree on that?

I agree