Bill, don't quit your day job! I did, and look where it got me! Just kidding actually, I'd be miserable if music were NOT my profession.
Now when I read my post back, I realized I'd phrased the first part wrong. I of course KNOW that a 1,5,4. is a suspension. What I should have emphasised (and I hope you all haven't gone away) was that I wasn't sure how to indicate on a chord chart, a chord with no third. For example if all the other ingredients are there for a D9th, (D,A,C,E) but not the F#, would you just write it as "D9(no 3rd) or is the 3rd COMPULSORY for it to BE a 9th?
You may have guessed that my student loves modal sounds and plays a lot in DADGAD. Has anyone heard the term "cluster" in regard to notes?
Thanks
Rick