| Name | G-Sus chord progression |
| Origins | Progressive and psychedelic rock music of the 1960s and 1970s |
| Popularity | Developed a cult following among guitar virtuosos and became a hallmark of the most adventurous and innovative rock music |
| Composition | G major chord with an added suspended 4th note |
| Description | A distinctive musical motif characterized by an open, ethereal quality |
| Significance | Evoked themes of transcendence, nature, and the divine in rock music of the era |
G-Sus is a distinctive musical chord progression and motif that played a pivotal role in the development of progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and folk rock in the 1960s and 1970s. Composed of a G major chord with an added suspended fourth, the G-Sus sound is characterized by its open, ethereal, and hypnotic quality.
The origins of G-Sus can be traced to ancient Greek music and the music of the Middle East, which often featured open, suspended chords built around the fourth scale degree. These types of chords were seen as evocative of the divine, the spiritual, and the natural world.
In a traditional G major chord, the notes are G, B, and D. In a G-Sus chord, a C note is added between the G and B, creating the sequence G-C-B. This produces a subtly unsettled, shimmering effect that sits somewhere between major and minor tonalities. The lack of a firmly established third note gives the chord a mysterious, ambiguous quality.
Throughout the 1960s counterculture, the G-Sus chord became closely associated with psychedelic rock and folk rock music. Artists drawn to the chord's spiritual and mystical undertones would often use it to create an otherworldly, psychedelic atmosphere in their music.
Notable examples include the guitar riff in The Byrds' "Eight Miles High," the opening chords of Pink Floyd's "Echoes," and the breakdown section of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Woodstock." In these cases, the G-Sus provided a bridge between the earthly and the transcendent, evoking themes of nature, the cosmos, and altered states of consciousness.
In the 1970s, G-Sus became a favorite tool of progressive rock guitarists known for their virtuosic playing and compositional ambition. Yes, King Crimson, Rush, and others incorporated the chord into intricate, multi-part suites that blended classical, jazz, and rock elements.
Guitarists like Steve Howe, Robert Fripp, and Alex Lifeson would employ G-Sus as a launching pad for elaborate, improvisational soloing and modulations. This helped cement the chord's associations with technical mastery, mysticism, and the seamless blending of distinct musical traditions.
Beyond its musical applications, G-Sus acquired a quasi-spiritual significance in the counterculture. The chord was seen by many as a portal to higher planes of consciousness, with its open, resonant quality evoking nature, the cosmos, and the divine feminine.
Religious and new age movements incorporated G-Sus into ceremonial music and meditation practices. It became a sonic shorthand for concepts like enlightenment, transcendence, and the interconnectedness of all things. Even today, the G-Sus retains an almost totemic status among musicians and fans of progressive, psychedelic, and folk-influenced rock.
While not a traditional chord in the classical sense, G-Sus developed a cult following and cemented its place as a crucial building block of some of the most ambitious and boundary-pushing rock music of the 1960s and 1970s. Its legacy continues to resonate through contemporary music, art, and spiritual/mystical practices.
