Dsus4 chord on piano
The Dsus4 chord, or D suspended 4th, stacks 3 notes on D: D, G and A. Musicians write its formula 1 4 5.
Notes and intervals of Dsus4
Each note of Dsus4 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (D), perfect 4th (G) and perfect 5th (A). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 4 5 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | D |
| 4 | perfect 4th | G |
| 5 | perfect 5th | A |
How to play Dsus4 on piano
Put your right-hand thumb on D, then add the other notes: D, G and A. Teachers usually suggest the fingering 1-3-5 (left hand: 5-3-1). Press the keys together, release, and repeat until the chord sounds even.
Inversions of Dsus4
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. Dsus4 has 2 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (G A D) and 2nd inversion (A D G). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use Dsus4?
Dsus4 is not built from the notes of a single major key, so it usually appears as a colour chord: a borrowed chord, a passing chord or a suspension that resolves to the next chord.
Scales to play over Dsus4
These scales share every note of Dsus4: D major scale, D natural minor scale, D harmonic minor scale, D melodic minor scale, D minor pentatonic scale, D blues scale, D Dorian mode, D Phrygian mode and D Mixolydian mode. D major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About sus4 chords
The third is replaced by a perfect fourth: 1 4 5. The fourth leans on the third it replaces, so the chord sounds expectant, as if holding its breath before resolving. It is the most common sus chord, and 'sus' alone usually means sus4. For example Asus4: A D E.
The classic gesture is sus4 to major on the same root, especially on V before the cadence: Vsus4 V I. Rock riffs alternate sus4 and major in one bar, folk players decorate open chords with it, and gospel and soul use a 9sus4 voicing, often written IV/V (for example F/G), as a softer dominant.
Play 1 4 5 with fingers 1, 3 or 4, and 5. Resolve by moving the fourth down a semitone to the major third while the other notes hold. A sus4 chord has the same notes as the sus2 a fourth above (for example Csus4 C F G and Fsus2 F G C).
Do not add the third to a sus4 chord: it cancels the suspension and creates a harsh clash. A sus4 usually resolves to the major chord, though resolving to minor is possible in a minor key. And 7sus4 is not the same as 7: it keeps the ♭7 but still has no third, so it sounds softer and more open.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Dsus4 chord?
Dsus4 (D suspended 4th) contains D, G and A. In intervals: root (D), perfect 4th (G) and perfect 5th (A).
How do you play Dsus4 on piano?
Play D, G and A together with the right-hand fingering 1-3-5. You can also play it in 2 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with Dsus4?
D major scale fits Dsus4 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: D natural minor scale, D harmonic minor scale, D melodic minor scale, D minor pentatonic scale, D blues scale, D Dorian mode, D Phrygian mode and D Mixolydian mode.
What key is Dsus4 in?
Dsus4 does not belong to a single major key. It is used as a colour chord that borrows notes from outside the key.
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