Also written Gsus4, Gsus or G Suspended
G suspended 4th contains G, C, and D. The open position uses two open strings, making it a beginner-friendly shape.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
G suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5 — the root G, the perfect fourth C, and the perfect fifth D. The fourth replaces the third, which removes the major or minor quality and leaves an open, unresolved sound. Compare it with G major, where the third is B.
G suspended 4th works as a suspended colour in G major progressions like G–C–D–G, the I–IV–V–I, where it delays the resolution of G major. It also fits folk, pop, and rock when a chord needs to hover before landing.
The open position puts G in the bass for a rooted, stable sound. The Gsus4/C inversion places C in the bass, which softens the chord and works well when the bass line is descending toward G.
G suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 3 0 0: index finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open.
Tip — Fretting two adjacent strings at the 3rd fret while letting the open strings ring requires a light, precise touch.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (1) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (4) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
G suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 5 5: index finger on the E string at fret 3, middle finger on the A string at fret 5, ring finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (1) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (5) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (1) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (4) |
G suspended 4th is played in open position as × 3 0 0: index finger on the A string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open. The E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (4) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
G suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 12: barre your index finger across fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 12.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (5) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (4) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (1) |
G suspended 4th is written as Gsus or Gsus4. The symbol Gsus4 specifies the fourth explicitly, while Gsus assumes it.
G suspended 4th replaces the third with the fourth, C. G suspended 2nd replaces the third with the second, A, creating an even more open sound.
Yes, G suspended 4th can resolve to G minor by moving the fourth down a half step to the minor third, B♭. This resolution is common in classical and folk music.