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A 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar (A7sus4)
Also called or written A7sus4, A or A Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
A 7th suspended 4th contains A, D, E, and G. The open voicing leaves the A string ringing as the bass while the index reaches the 3rd fret on the B string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
- Root positionA–D–E–GA7sus4×-0-0-0-3-0
- First inversionD–E–G–AA7sus4/D×-5-5-7-5-5
- Second inversionE–G–A–DA7sus4/E0-0-0-0-3-0
- Third inversionG–A–D–EA7sus4/G3-0-0-0-3-0
How do you play an A 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar?
A 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as × 0 0 0 3 0: index finger on the B string at fret 3. The A, D, G and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (4) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 1 | D (4) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (5) |
AdvancedThe open voicing requires muting the low E string while fretting the B string cleanly with the index finger.
Open · ×-0-2-0-3-0
A 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as × 0 2 0 3 0: index finger on the D string at fret 2 and middle finger on the B string at fret 3. The A, G and high e strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (4) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (5) |
Open · ×-0-2-0-3-3
A 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as × 0 2 0 3 3: index finger on the D string at fret 2, middle finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (4) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (♭7) |
Open · ×-0-2-2-3-3
A 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as × 0 2 2 3 3: index finger on the D string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (5) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (4) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (♭7) |
5th fret
A 7th suspended 4th is played at the 5th fret as 5 5 5 7 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 1 (barre) | D (4) |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 1 (barre) | G (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (4) |
| 2 (B) | 5 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between A and D replaces the major 3rd, giving the chord its suspended quality. The minor 7th from A to G adds a dominant pull. Compare with A suspended 4th, which omits the ♭7.
What goes wrong with A 7th suspended 4th?
- Letting the low E string ring out, which adds an unintended bass note below the A root.
- Pressing the index finger too flat, which deadens the high e string next to it.
- Strumming all six strings without muting the low E, muddying the voicing.
When to use it
A 7th suspended 4th works as a dominant in D major, such as in the I–IV–V–I progression D–G–A–D. It also fits A natural minor and A minor pentatonic lines. Use it for a suspended dominant sound in rock and blues.
Changing to and from A 7th suspended 4th
- Move to A minor by lifting the index finger from the B string, letting the open B ring.
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret gives G 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps A in the bass and suits strummed passages. The 5th fret barre voicing offers a fuller sound with the root on the low E string. Choose the open shape for a lighter texture and the barre shape for more projection.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A 7th suspended 4th written?
A 7th suspended 4th is written as A7sus4 or A7sus. It is also called Dominant 7th Suspended 4th.
What is the difference between A7sus4 and A7?
A7sus4 replaces the major 3rd (C♯) with a perfect 4th (D). A7 contains C♯, giving it a major quality, while A7sus4 has a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can A7sus4 resolve to A major?
Yes, A7sus4 often resolves to A major by moving the D note down to C♯. This resolution is common in dominant-to-tonic progressions.
What scales work over A7sus4?
A natural minor, A minor pentatonic, A blues minor, and A dorian all contain the chord tones A, D, E, and G. These scales emphasize the suspended 4th and ♭7.