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C♯ suspended 4th chord on bass (C♯sus4)
Also called or written C♯sus4, C♯sus or C♯ Suspended
C♯ suspended 4th contains C♯, F♯, and G♯. The 9th-fret shape is a stretch, but the inversion at the 4th fret uses a barre for a warmer voicing.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
- Root positionC♯–F♯–G♯C♯sus49-11-11-11
- First inversionF♯–G♯–C♯C♯sus4/F♯no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionG♯–C♯–F♯C♯sus4/G♯4-4-4-6
How do you play a C♯ suspended 4th chord on bass?
C♯ suspended 4th is played at the 9th fret as 9 11 11 11: index finger on the E string at fret 9, middle finger on the A string at fret 11, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (4) |
IntermediateThe three-fret stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string demands a wide hand span.
C♯sus4/G♯ inversion
C♯ suspended 4th is played at the 4th fret as 4 4 4 6: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (4) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5 — the root C♯, the perfect fourth F♯, and the perfect fifth G♯. The fourth replaces the third, which removes the major or minor quality and leaves an open, unresolved sound. Compare it with C♯ major, where the third is E♯.
What goes wrong with C♯ suspended 4th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the 1st string.
- Pressing the middle finger too flat and deadening the 2nd string.
- Rushing the shift so the index lands short of the 9th fret.
When to use it
C♯ suspended 4th works as a suspended colour in C♯ major progressions like C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯, the I–IV–V–I, where it delays the resolution of C♯ major. It also fits rock, pop, and gospel when a chord needs to hover before landing.
Changing to and from C♯ suspended 4th
- Move to C♯ major by lifting the middle finger and placing it on the 3rd string, 10th fret while keeping the index and ring in place.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 7th fret to reach B suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The 9th-fret shape puts C♯ in the bass for a rooted, stable sound. The C♯sus4/G♯ inversion places G♯ in the bass, which softens the chord and works well when the bass line is descending toward F♯.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ suspended 4th written?
C♯ suspended 4th is written as C♯sus or C♯sus4. The ASCII spelling is C#, so you may see C#sus or C#sus4. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ suspended 4th and C♯ suspended 2nd?
C♯ suspended 4th replaces the third with the fourth, F♯. C♯ suspended 2nd replaces the third with the second, D♯, creating an even more open sound.
Can C♯ suspended 4th resolve to C♯ minor?
Yes, C♯ suspended 4th can resolve to C♯ minor by moving the fourth down a half step to the minor third, E. This resolution is common in classical and folk music.