[Dixielandjazz] I hate to bring this up, but....

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Hi Russ, I don't think I can do a music professor's caliber of explanation,  
but hopefully, I can help some.  The "sus" is an abbreviation for  suspended, 
as in something sort of hanging out there.  What is  translates to is to add 
the fourth note of that scale to the chord.   So in Csus, it means to not only 
play the C, E, G, of the chord but also to add  the F.  And that F is 
considered discordant or "hanging" out there needing  to move on to something else to 
take the tension away.  Almost always that  sus 4 note is also the melody note 
(lead) of the tune.
The chording rhythm player thus can play a straight C chord because the  lead 
has the F covered if the melody is being played.
Ginny
 
In a message dated 9/19/2006 4:17:15 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
russg at redshift.com writes:

I hate  to bring this up, everyone will know what a dope I am, but.....

What  does "sus" mean following a chord?

Csus, for example.  I think it  means "sustain", but what does that mean?

Russ -still puzzling things  out -Guarino
Monterey Lighthouse Jazz Band