A Sus4 Guitar Chord: Fretboard Charts & Variations
Welcome to our deep-dive tutorial on the A sus4 chord. As a member of the suspended chords family, the A sus4 chord has a unique sound that sets it apart from major and minor chords. This chord is composed of three notes: A, D, and E, and is built using the 1, 4, and 5 intervals, also known as the Root, Perfect Fourth, and Perfect Fifth.
If you're new to the concept of intervals, they are the building blocks of chords. Each note in a chord corresponds to a specific interval, which determines its position and role within the chord. For a comprehensive guide on intervals, check out our fretboard intervals tutorial.
The A sus4 chord, like all suspended chords, lacks a third. This gives it a certain ambiguity and openness, making it a versatile chord that can be used in various musical contexts.
Learning to play the A sus4 chord involves understanding its structure and practicing its various fretboard patterns. This tutorial will guide you through the process, providing chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to help you visualize and master the tones that compose this chord. For a broader understanding of chord construction, you might find our guitar music theory tutorial helpful.
Whether you're a beginner looking to expand your chord vocabulary or an intermediate player seeking to delve deeper into music theory, mastering the A sus4 chord is a worthwhile endeavor. So grab your guitar and let's get started!
Notes that compose the A sus4 chord:
Chord Structure:
How To Play The Asus4 chord on guitar
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Open
Position 2
Barre
Open
Position 3
Barre
Open
Position 4
Barre
Open
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FAQ
What notes are in the Asus4 chord?
The Asus4 chord is composed of three specific notes: A, D, and E. These notes correspond to the Root, Perfect Fourth, and Perfect Fifth intervals, respectively, within the A scale.
What makes the Asus4 chord sound different from a regular A major or A minor chord?
The Asus4 chord has a unique sound because it lacks a major or minor third. Instead, the third is 'suspended' and replaced by a perfect fourth. This absence of a definitive third gives the chord an ambiguous and open quality, setting it apart from the more resolved sound of major and minor chords.
What are the intervals that build an Asus4 chord?
The Asus4 chord is built using the 1st, 4th, and 5th intervals. In terms of musical theory, these are the Root, a Perfect Fourth, and a Perfect Fifth. For the Asus4 specifically, the A is the Root (1), D is the Perfect Fourth (4), and E is the Perfect Fifth (5).
Why is it called a 'suspended' chord?
A chord is called 'suspended' (like Asus4) because it 'suspends' or replaces the third interval with either a second (sus2) or, in this case, a fourth (sus4). This removal of the third, which typically defines a chord as major or minor, results in a sound that is neither distinctly major nor minor, creating ambiguity and an open feel.
Does the lack of a third in Asus4 affect its versatility?
Yes, the lack of a third in the Asus4 chord significantly contributes to its versatility. Because it avoids the definitive major or minor quality, it can fit well in various musical contexts without committing to a specific harmonic mood, making it useful in diverse musical styles and progressions.