oops, typo, second example in my last post should say "C9 sus" not "C sus9" -- jeez, I hate nitpicking, especially when it's my own post!

leeneia -- understand what you're saying, but it doesn't work that way. The chord name doesn't give the voicing, except in the case of "slash" chords where the bass is indicated, and then only the bass is specified -- kind of like Baroque figured bass. It's up to the player to be tangy or clangy, the chord name stays the same.

hesperis -- yeah, I like the sound too -- really just depends on context whether they need to resolve or not, these days they're a sound in their own right.

I think the standard reference on chord naming is "Standard Chord Symbol Notation" by Brandt and Roemer -- unfortunately I don't have a copy to check, but if you can't track down your teacher, your school library probably has the book.