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C suspended 4th chord on bass (Csus4)
Also called or written Csus4, Csus or C Suspended
C suspended 4th contains C, F, and G. The open position mutes the low E string, making it a beginner-friendly shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
How do you play a C suspended 4th chord on bass?
C suspended 4th is played in open position as × 3 3 0: index finger on the A string at fret 3 and middle finger on the D string at fret 3. The G string rings open. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (4) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
BeginnerMuting the 4th string while fretting the 3rd and 2nd strings requires a light touch to avoid accidental noise.
8th fret
C suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 10 10: index finger on the E string at fret 8, middle finger on the A string at fret 10, ring finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 2 | G (5) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 3 | C (1) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (4) |
Csus4/F inversion
C suspended 4th is played in open position as 1 3 3 0: index finger on the E string at fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 3 and ring finger on the D string at fret 3. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (4) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (4) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
Csus4/G inversion · open position
C suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 3 3 0: barre your index finger across fret 3. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (4) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
Csus4/G inversion · fret 3
C suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 5: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (4) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 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 low E string ring out, adding an unwanted note.
- Pressing the index finger too flat and deadening the 2nd string.
- Placing the middle finger on the fret instead of just behind it, causing a buzz.
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 folk, pop, and rock 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 2nd string, 2nd fret while keeping the index in place.
Which voicing to use
The open position puts C in the bass for a rooted, stable sound. The Csus4/F inversion places F in the bass, which softens the chord and works well when the bass line is descending toward C.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C suspended 4th written?
C suspended 4th is written as Csus or Csus4. The symbol Csus4 specifies the fourth explicitly, while Csus assumes it.
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.