Why the 3rd?? Because 3rd tells you the quality of the chord, whether it is major or minor. (Which is also why the 3rd is a great way to Avoid the 1 when writing melodies)
The 3rd is important, but sometimes the 3rd is omitted. When it is absent it leaves an open sounding chord that is neither minor or major. 2 Chord types that omit the 3rd are Suspensions and Power Chords.
Suspensions Suspensions chords, also called Sus Chords, remove the 3rd and replace with the 4th or 2nd. It's still has 3 notes! It is still a triad! It's just moved that conventional 3rd up to 4 spot or down to the 2 spot.
So which one is it? The 4 or the 2?
When the 4 is called for you can expect to see a "sus4."
When the 2 is called for you can expect to see a "sus2."
Let's spell a few sus chords.
Csus2 - C D G
Csus4 - C F G
Absus2 - Ab Bb Eb
Absus4 - Ab Db Eb
Esus2 - E F# B
Esus4 - E A B
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| Your nerd glasses are slipping.. push'em up! |
THINK MUSIC CHALLENGE
Can you think of a song that uses both sus4 and sus2 in pronounced ways?Power Chords
My guitar buddies out there are grinning! They know this one.
A power chord is 1 and 5 and nothing else. No 3rd, no 2nd, no 4th, no b6 #9 with a twist of lime... Nothin!
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| Wrong kind of Power Chords... |
The Power chord symbol is "5"
Let's spell a few power chords
D5 - D A
F#5 - F# C#
Eb5 - Eb Bb
G5 - G D
So there you go! Dropped some Theory Nerd Knowledge on you about Sus chords and Power Chords.
I also threw you a tough Think Music Challenge! Answer if you dare!!
Remember to keep challenging yourself to not just play music, but to think music.
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