My chord counting system is a quick and easy way to define and play one of the most basic of all piano chords: a Suspended 2nd Triad. I show you how in the quick video below.
There are two types of suspended triads: Suspended 4th and Suspended 2nd. The more common Suspended 4th (sometimes referred to simply as a sus chord) is covered in the previous post.
Nonetheless, there is a place in music for the mostly overlooked Suspended 2nd Triad. A suspended 2nd triad is also be referred to as a sus2 chord, or just a sus2.
Here are the three steps to defining and playing a sus2 triad:
- Hold down any note. This will be the “root” note of the triad.
- While holding down the root note, count up 2 half-steps.
- While holding down both notes, count up 5 half-steps from the 2nd note.
- Play all three notes simultaneously and you have a Sus2 Triad, named after the root note. For example, if the first note you held down is a D note, then the resulting sus2 triad is called D Sus2 Triad, a D Suspended 2nd Triad, or simply a D Sus2.
Remember this phrase: “Root–2–5,” the counting scheme for creating a minor triad.
