Suspended and 5th chords

If you've been reading all the other chord construction entries this should make perfect sense. If you haven't then can I suggest you back track and read those first. I'll make a lot more sense if you do.

Suspended chords
The two suspended chords that I'm going to discuss here. sus2 and sus4.

Sus2
A sus2 chord has a scale spelling of 1, 2, 5. Yep that's right, no third. This means it's neither a major or a minor chord. So, as usual using C.

1 = C
2 = D
5 = G

Sus4
You can probably now work out that a sus4 chord has a scale spelling of 1,4, 5.
Again in C this gives you.

1 = C
4 = F
5 = G

Really good example of the use of a sus4 chord is the intro to Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen.

5th Chords
A very simple chord this one. It's scale spelling is 1, 5, 8 so all you're getting is the root note, the fifth and the octave. Once again in C

1 = C
5 = G
8 = C

A lot of people don't actually play the octave which is theoretically incorrect (as a chord is three or more notes) but as this particular chord is fairly neutral in sound and sonically has very few overtones it sounds great when used with an overdriven or distorted sound. That's why this chord is loved by rock guitarists the world over.