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Dominant 7th sus4 Chords on Piano

The dominant 7th sus4 chord replaces the major third of a dominant 7th with a perfect fourth, creating a suspended, unresolved sound over a dominant framework. It appears constantly in pop, rock, gospel, and jazz as a tension chord that resolves to a standard dominant 7th or directly to the tonic.

Formula: Root – Perfect 4th – Perfect 5th – Minor 7th
Scale degrees: 1–4–5–♭7
Sound: Suspended, open, unresolved, gospel
Symbol: 7sus4 (C7sus4)

The sus-to-resolution trick: Play C7sus4 → C7 → F. The 4th (F) resolving down to the 3rd (E) creates a satisfying melodic pull on top of the V–I harmonic motion. This two-step resolution is a staple of gospel piano and Stevie Wonder-style soul.

Dominant 7th sus4 Chord in All 18 Keys