Chord Shapes

Dominant 9th Suspended 4th

Intervals: 1-4-5-b7-9 (often omitting the 5th). Essentially a 7sus4 chord with an added 9th, strongly associated with modal harmony and quartal voicings. Because the 3rd is absent, the chord doesn’t carry the same must-resolve tension as a traditional V7, and can happily act as a tonic modal sonority (for example D9sus4 over a D Dorian bass). It also appears as V7sus4(9) resolving to V7–I in more functional settings. Guitarists and pianists often use stacked-4th voicings that imply this sound, as in “So What”–style chords. Use it for broad, atmospheric dominants that feel suspended rather than sharply directional.