Gsus

[jtmerch]

I need help hitting the Gsus chord. I have no idea what "sus" means (besides suspended) - I mean that I have no idea how to implement this on my guitar. I see Dsus and Gsus, etc but cannot figure out what this means to me as far as finger placement and chords go. Are there tuturials on these?

[CSchlegel]

I have no idea what "sus" means (besides suspended) - I mean that I have no idea how to implement this on my guitar.

Yes, sus means suspended. This means the major 3rd of the chord is suspended, or replaced by the 2nd or 4th. Usually, it is understood to be the 4th, unless the 2nd is specified.

This lesson talks about suspended chords:

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=12516&c_id=13&ch_id=78&s_id=649

In order to play a Gsus4 take a regular G major chord:

E |--3--|
B |--0--|
G |--0--|
D |--0--|
A |-----|
E |--3--|

And replace the maj 3rd (B) with the 4th (C) on the B string 1st fret:

E |--3--|
B |--1--|
G |--0--|
D |--0--|
A |-----|
E |--3--|

Make sense?

[jtmerch]

Thanks, but no it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me right now. And the lesson on that link is very short. And I have no idea what replace the maj 3rd B with the 4th C means. Sorry, I've taken lessons but I'm still very new and have trouble with the lingo when it gets too technical, that's why I was hoping to come across a video.

[RickBlacker]

Hi jtmerch

Try doing a search on guitar intervals. Understanding the guitar interval will definitly help you understand what he means in regards to replacing the maj 3rd B with the 4th C

I understand what he means, but not able to articulte it out otherwise I'd explain it to you. Maybe someone else can. None the less, definitly do a search on intervals.

[jtmerch]

Ok I'll check out intervals, thanks for your help!

[RickBlacker]

In fact, go here...
http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=2


In Guitar Fundamentals 2, he starts off with intervals. Have you gone through Guitar Fundamentals 1 yet?

One thing I've learned is that (for me personally) I can't rush things. I did when I went though fundamentals 1 and 2, then found that I constantly was going back. All the ground work is in those two courses.

[CSchlegel]

In fact, go here...
http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=2

Good call, Rick. Thanks. :)

I should have pointed this one out myself. The numbers are scale degrees that get built into chord tones. The intervals tutorial will explain that in more depth. Then you can get to my music theory tutorial here:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=495

And the third lesson in that tutorial will explain how chords get built from scales. I have recently filmed footage for that tutorial, but will not get around to editing-rendering vids for a little while. But it's in the work queue!

Further, this tutorial is entirely about sus chords:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=199

Best of success with it!

[g_erdner]

Here's how I've remembered how suspended chords work. Whatever string is playing the root note of the chord, the next higher pitched string is playing the third of the chord. Play a D major on the three highest strings, and the note on the high E string, F#, is the third. To suspend a 4th, play the high E one fret higher (the G). To suspend a second, play the F# two frets lower (open E).

If you're playing a first position A chord, the A is on the G string, and the third (C#) is on the B string. One fret up from C# is D, the suspended 4th, two frets down is the open B, or suspended 2nd.

On an F major in first position, A to Bb on the G string is a suspended 4th. The open G string is the suspended 2nd. Shift the pattern to the next lower pair of strings, and you can do the same trick on the C major chord, and another pair and you can to the same thing for the first position G chord.

You can also voice the chords differently by playing the suspended notes higher in the chord. In the song "Darling Be Home Soon", there's a C suspended 4th, major, then suspended 2nd riff played on the D string, but on other songs, C sus4 sounds better voiced with the F on the high E string.

The Who's Pinball Wizard uses suspended 4th barre chords, where you shift from using the "A" form barre chord with the fingers shifted one set of strings lower, then an "E" form barre chord on the same fret when it moves to the major chord.

Suspended 4th seem to be extremely popular with a lot of old school songwriters, like Dylan, Tom Petty, and Sonny Bono.