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F♯ 7th suspended 4th chord on bass (F♯7sus4)
Also called or written F♯7sus4, F♯ or F♯ Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
F♯ 7th suspended 4th contains F♯, B, C♯, and E. The 2nd-fret shape demands a wide stretch, and the 9th-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 2nd fret as 2 4 2 4: index finger on the E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 4 | B (4) |
AdvancedThe 9th-fret inversion requires barring all four strings cleanly while keeping the bass note C♯ clear.
F♯7sus4/C♯ inversion
F♯ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 9th fret as 9 9 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 (barre) | B (4) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 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 middle finger flatten onto the A string, which deadens the 4th-fret note.
- Pressing the barre too hard in the inversion, causing the strings to buzz.
When to use it
F♯ 7th suspended 4th acts as the V chord in B major, appearing in the I–IV–V–I progression B major–E major–F♯ major–B major. It suits rock and blues 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 down one fret to the 1st fret gives F 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd-fret shape keeps F♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The F♯7sus4/C♯ inversion at the 9th fret puts C♯ in the bass, which softens the chord and works well for a lighter texture.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ 7th suspended 4th written?
F♯ 7th suspended 4th is written F♯7sus4, and the root is also spelled F# in ASCII. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Can F♯ 7th suspended 4th be played with open strings?
No, this chord has no open-string voicing. The lowest position is the 2nd-fret shape, which uses individual fingers.
What mistake do bassists make with this chord?
They often let the middle finger collapse onto the A string, muting the 4th-fret note. Keep that finger arched to let every string ring.