Natural Minor (Double Octave)

E	A	D	G	B	E
			1
1	1	1	2	1	1
				2
3	3	3	4
4	4			4

Old D Minor Pattern

D G B E
_ _ _ 1
_ 2 _ _
_ _ 3 _

New D Minor Pattern
D G B E
_ _ _ 1
_ 2 _ _
3 _ 4 _

The difference being the addition of an extra, “bassy” F note using the 3^rd finger. Note that On the 4^th string, 3^rd fret, the note is an F. So we are still playing the same chord with a “bassy” feel.

This pattern is useful because it’s a movable chord and can be used to play different minor chords lower down on the fretboard.

Suspension Chords

The Major Chord Rule is to pick the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th notes (Sa-Ga-Pa) from a major scale. When we construct suspension chords, we “suspend” the 3^rd note in favor of a different note.

For e.g.
Suspension 2 means using the 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th notes from a major scale.
So from Sa-Ga-Pa we go to Sa-Re-Pa.

Suspension 4 means using the 1^st, 4^th and 5^th notes from a major scale.
So from Sa-Ga-Pa we go to Sa-Ma-Pa.

Summer of 69
Chord to Hold String to play

D-sus-2 1, 2, 3
D 1, 2, 3
D-sus-4 1, 2, 3
D 1, 2, 3
D-sus-2 1, 3
D 1, 3

A 2, 3, 4
A-sus-2 2, 3, 4
A 2, 3, 4
A-sus-4 2, 3, 4
A 2, 3, 4
A-sus-2 2, 4
A 2, 4

Chords:
Bm – A – D – G
F – A# - C
Strumming on D chord using Palm muting:

1

A

&

E

2

A

&

E

3

A

&

E

4

A

&

E

D

M

D

M

M

M

M

M

D

M

M

M

M

M

M

D – Down Stroke
M - Mute

Suspended Chords

In major or minor chords, there are three different notes: the root, third, and fifth. Therefore, a D chord has D, F#, and A. In a sus4 chord, the third is replaced by the fourth, so the chord contains a root, fourth, and fifth. This pattern gives a sus4 chord the following structure: 1-4-5. The fourth of D is G, so the Dsus4 contains D, G, and A Therefore, the fingering for a Dsus4 chord looks like this:

---

As another example, an Asus4 chord (formed x02230) is made up of A, D, and E, as shown here:

---

Once you understand this, the following fingerings of common sus4 chords becomes apparent:

Asus4 Bsus4 Dsus4 Esus4 F#sus4 Gsus4

dansm rules

x02230 x24452 xx0233 022200 244422 3x0013

---

Once you understand the theory behind sus4 chords, sus2 chords are very similar. Instead of the root, fourth, and fifth in a sus4 chord, a sus2 chord contains the root, second, and fifth. Sus2 chords have the pattern 1-2-5. Therefore, a Dsus2 will contain D, E, and A, giving a fingering which looks like this:

---

As another example, an Asus2 chord (formed x02200) is made up of A, B, and E, as shown here:

---

Once you understand this, the following fingerings of common sus2 chords becomes apparent:

Asus2 Bsus2 Dsus2

dansm rules

x02200 x24422 xx0230

That's about it with suspended chords. They are really easy to understand once you understand a little bit of theory. Also, I haven't notated many barre chords above because I assume that once you know a Bsus2 or Bsus4 you can figure out how to make a Csus4. Have fun with these, and be happy that the next time you see sus4 you will understand!