What do "add" and "sus" mean in chords?

[RandomHero]

How do they apply in intervallic theory? I can assume Add9 means that there's a 1 scale tone somewhere in the mix? Am I right? What about sus?

[GuyaGuy]

add just means that that note of the scale is added to the chord--in yr example a 9, which would be a D in a C major scale. obviously they usually add a bit of dissonance.

sus=sus, which is generally an abbreviation for sus4, which means the 4th note is added--F in the C major scale.

here are some basics:
www.rpsoft2000.com/rps_musicinfo.htm

[UnklMickey]

intervallic theory? almost sounds like chemistry. i'll have to look that up.

i'd like to add to what GuyaGuy said about sus4. although the 4th is sometimes added, it is more often replacing the third. in the C (Maj) example, the 1/2 step interval between the E (third) and the F (fourth) creates a strong dissonance. the third can be moved an octave up or down to minimize this, but usually its just omitted.

when moving from IV Maj (F A C) or better yet IV Maj 2nd inversion (C F A) to I Maj (C E G) , the transition can be made through I sus (C F G).

there's a reason its called suspended... the fourth just seems to hang there waiting to be resolved down to the third.

for those just getting started, don't confuse add with +!

as GuyaGuy mentioned' add means the tone is added to the chord.

+ means the fifth is Augmented (raised a half step) -- root, third, augmented fifth.

- means the third and fifth are both lowered a half step. -- root, minor third, diminished fifth


root tones of a scale are just that the root. we never consider them raised or lowered.

seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths are called Major or minor (natural or lowered 1/2 step)

fourth and fifths are called perfect, diminished, or augmented -- (natural, lowered 1/2 step, or raised 1/2 step)


i've gotten way off the original subject. i'll shut up now.



EDIT: numerous spelling error corrected.

[Ripper]

Joni Mitchell said about suspended chords.."They work best if you go in and get out" In other words, use them as small accents to your music. Dont dwell on them.

[UnklMickey]

deepblue said:

Joni Mitchell said about suspended chords.."They work best if you go in and get out" In other words, use them as small accents to your music. Dont dwell on them.

thanks deepblue,

i guess that supports what i previously said, with a slightly different view.

unklmickey said:

...there's a reason its called suspended... the fourth just seems to hang there waiting to be resolved down to the third....

[4real]

Yep...

A suspended chord replaces the third with the 4th or 2nd.

An added chord adds the note to the total chord structure (including the third) and is usually expressed as a note above the octave. A 2nd would be a 9th and a 4th would be an 11th.

I'm partial to jangly chords that add close notes. For instance, in the key of G a open C shaped chord slid up to the 3rd fret makes a nice D chord with a neat disonance between the 3rd (f# 4th string/4th fret) and the 4th (open G) and the root (3rd fret/2nd string) and the 2nd (open E).
---0---
---3---
---0---
---4---
---5---
---X---
The same shape makes a nice F chord on the 6th fret. One of my favs is this Aminor chord with an added 2nd.
---0---
---0---
---5---
---7---
---0---
---X---
It's a different color to an added 9th (same note, different octave) like this...
---7---
---5---
---5---
---7---
---0---
---X---
'Course it's all academic really as there are only six notes available to play on the guitar and you can't get all the notes of a fully extended chord like a 13th so you got to make choices...