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F 7th suspended 4th chord on bass (F7sus4)
Also called or written F7sus4, F or F Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
F 7th suspended 4th contains F, B♭, C, and E♭. The 1st-fret shape demands a wide stretch, and the 8th-fret inversion requires a full barre.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play an F 7th suspended 4th chord on bass?
F 7th suspended 4th is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 1 3: index finger on the E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 4 | B♭ (4) |
AdvancedThe 8th-fret inversion requires barring all four strings cleanly while keeping the bass note C clear.
13th fret
F 7th suspended 4th is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 13 15: index finger on the E string at fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 15, middle finger on the D string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 15.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 2 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 15 | 4 | B♭ (4) |
F7sus4/C inversion
F 7th suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (4) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (♭7) |
Why it sounds like that
F 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between F and B♭ creates the suspended sound, while the minor 7th E♭ adds tension. Compare it to F suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th.
What goes wrong with F 7th suspended 4th?
- Letting the ring finger lean on the D string, which mutes the 1st-fret note.
- Pressing the barre unevenly in the inversion, causing the outer strings to buzz.
When to use it
F 7th suspended 4th functions as the V chord in B♭ major, heard in the I–IV–V–I progression B♭ major–E♭ major–F major–B♭ major. It fits blues and rock bass lines that need a suspended dominant. Compare it to F minor to hear the difference between a suspended dominant and a minor chord.
Changing to and from F 7th suspended 4th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives G 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The 1st-fret shape keeps F in the bass for a strong root position. The F7sus4/C inversion at the 8th fret puts C in the bass, which gives a softer, less grounded feel.
Other F chords
Common questions
How does F 7th suspended 4th differ from F suspended 4th?
F 7th suspended 4th adds the minor 7th E♭ to the F, B♭, and C of F suspended 4th. That extra note creates a dominant pull toward B♭ major.
Can F 7th suspended 4th be played with open strings?
No, this chord has no open-string voicing. The lowest position is the 1st-fret shape, which uses individual fingers.
What mistake do bassists make with this chord?
They often let the ring finger collapse onto the D string, muting the 1st-fret note. Keep that finger arched to let every string ring.