Chord Progressions: Sus4 Resolved to Major Triad

music notation showing a sus4 chord resolving to a major triad

Csus4 (read “C suspended fourth”) with its major triad resolution…

piano-ology-chord-progressions-suspensions-notation
piano-ology-chord-progressions-suspensions-csus4-resolved-to-c-major-triad-keyboard

Notice how unstable and antsy the sus4 chord sounds and feels, like it needs to go somewhere, and how that instability is relieved upon the arrival of the major triad.


Suspensions can be applied to add harmonic interest in many musical contexts, for example in Pinball Wizard (The Who):


learn more… Sus4 Resolved to Minor Triad

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