# Sus chords and power chords

*Module 7 · Lesson 7: Triads and arpeggios · BazzLow*

> Build suspended and power chords and know how the bass treats them.

Before this lesson: [7.5 Triad shapes on the bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/triad-shapes/)

Remove the 3rd from a chord and you get something open and undecided: neither major nor minor. Two families of chords work this way.

## Suspended chords

**Suspended** chords replace the 3rd. A **sus2** is **1 2 5** (C D G); a **sus4** is **1 4 5** (C F G). “Csus” alone usually means sus4.

Without a 3rd, a sus chord is **neither major nor minor**. It sounds open and often resolves to the major or minor triad on the same root: Csus4 → C. The 4 falls to the 3.

## Power chords

A **power chord** (C5) is **1 5**, often with the octave: root, 5th, root. With no 3rd, it is again neither major nor minor. It is common in rock, where distortion makes 3rds sound harsh.

> **Diagram:** Csus2: C D G.

> **Diagram:** Csus4: C F G.

> **Diagram:** C5: C G.

## For the bass

- Over sus and power chords, the root, the 5th and the octave are always safe.
- Avoid playing a 3rd over them unless the music clearly wants major or minor.

Spelling: sus4 on F is F B♭ C (not A♯); sus2 on E is E F♯ B.

## Try it

Play Csus4 → C arpeggios: C F G → C E G. Hear the 4 “resolve” to the 3.

## New terms

- suspended chord
- sus2
- sus4
- power chord

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/sus-and-power-chords/