Arpeggio
G♯ 7sus2
Sus
- Formula
- 1 2 5 ♭7
- Notes
- G♯ A♯ D♯ F♯
Notation
Fretboard — frets 0–24
Degrees
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G♯ | perfect unison | 0 | The root — the tonal centre every other note is heard against; land on it and the sound resolves. |
| 2 | A♯ | major second | 2 | The major second — a bright neighbour a whole step above the root; in sus2 it replaces the third, so the chord commits to neither major nor minor. |
| 5 | D♯ | perfect fifth | 7 | The perfect fifth — the root's strongest companion; it anchors every triad and stacked-seventh quality. |
| ♭7 | F♯ | minor seventh | 10 | The minor seventh — the dominant's engine; a whole step under the root, it turns a triad into a 7 chord and drives the resolution. |
About this arpeggio
The dominant suspended second chord combines the open sus2 shape with a minor seventh, so the tension is doubled: no third to define the chord's colour, and a seventh that pulls toward resolution. It sounds modern and slightly unresolved, like a dominant chord that has not decided which way to go. Funk, fusion and contemporary gospel use it over static grooves where the harmony can stay suspended for bars at a time. The second and the seventh together give the chord a wide, hollow ring. Listen for the seventh underneath the suspended second — the two together are what keep the chord moving without a third.
How to practise this arpeggio
- Play the second and seventh together and listen for the hollow ring.
- Loop it over a static funk groove and avoid adding a third.
- Compare it with sus2 and hear what the seventh contributes.
- Improvise over the vamp using the second as a target note.