A sus4 chordAsus4

Built from

• Aroot
• D4th
• E5th

The 4th pushes against where the 3rd wants to be. Drop it one fret and the chord resolves to major.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In A major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Asus4I
  2. EV
  3. F♯mvi
  4. DIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In A major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Asus4I
  2. DIV
  3. EV
  4. Asus4I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In A major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Asus4I
  2. F♯mvi
  3. DIV
  4. EV

Where it goes next

Thinking in A major, where it is the I chord.

• D

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• E

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• F♯m

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• Bm

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• D

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have A and D.

• Dm

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have A and D.

• D7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have A and D.

• Dmaj7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have A and D.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• A major

Keys it lives in

• A majoras I
• D majoras V
• E majoras IV
• C♯ minoras VI
• F♯ minoras III
• B minoras VII