Suspension
A non-chord tone held over from the previous chord, creating tension
Category
harmony
Pronunciation
suh-SPEN-shun
Origin
Latin
Length
92 words · 1 min read
About Suspension
A suspension occurs when a note from one chord is held (or "suspended") into the next, where it clashes with the new harmony before resolving stepwise downward. Named by the intervals they create (e.g.
More harmony terms
Inversion
View all harmonyterms →The process of flipping an interval or rearranging the notes of a chord so a different note is in the bass.
TriadA three-note chord built from stacked thirds
Seventh ChordA four-note chord adding a seventh above the root to a triad
ResolutionThe move from a dissonant or unstable sonority to a consonant or stable one
DissonanceIntervals or chords perceived as tense, unstable, and seeking resolution.
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 09/04/2026Browse all terms →