The open string chords you start with when beginning to play guitar are really great, however, this lesson shows you how to create new sounds from them. In the second lesson in this topic, Ross shows how to take open string chords up the neck and use in chordal accompaniment. Also how to rename these chords as they move.
In this course for the advancing guitarist, Ross Baird shows the power of development. By using his song “Heading Home” and applying Major7, Sus2 and Sus4 chords, you will see how it transforms how you hear the music. These new chordal textures are not hard to play, but understanding how they are created and how you can use them in vitally important. Ross looks to teach you in a way that means you can apply the concepts across all your playing.
WHY ARE SUSPENDED (SUS2 & SUS4) CHORDS SO POPULAR?
Once you begin to develop as a guitarist and musician, it won’t be long before you come across the suspended chord. Sus chords are very popular with guitarists. They are easy to play and remember, they look close to the major/minor the can resolve to.
They sound almost ethereal or mystical (more on this later). So what are they and why do they sound like this?
HOW ARE THESE CHORDS CREATED?
First of all, the construction of a suspended chord is easy to understand if you have worked through Ross’s scale lesson video
open string scales in five keys.
A major or minor triad consists of three notes. The notes used are the root, third and fifth regardless of chord type re major/minor. When you suspend a chord, you replace the third with the fourth of the scale.
What this does in a sonic sense is that the chord is now no longer major or minor. It’s almost suspended in musical mid-air. It can be heard as wishing to be resolved by playing the respective major or minor chord of the same root. In many musical styles, this never happens.
AND THEN WHAT?
Once you learn some of these chords, why not play and imagine something quite mystical. For example, flying over a mountain range with mist floating over trees, or through space. As odd as this sounds, with sus 4 and sus 2 chords you will get the idea.
