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C suspended 4th chord on guitar (Csus4)
Also called or written Csus4, Csus or C Suspended
C suspended 4th is built from C, F, and G. The open shape requires a three-fret stretch, making it a step up from beginner chords.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
- Root positionC–F–GCsus4×-3-3-0-1-1
- First inversionF–G–CCsus4/F1-3-3-0-1-×
- Second inversionG–C–FCsus4/G3-3-3-0-1-×
How do you play a C suspended 4th chord on guitar?
C suspended 4th is played in open position as × 3 3 0 1 1: ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. The G string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 4 | F (4) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | F (4) |
IntermediateThe open shape demands a wide stretch between the index finger on the 1st fret and the ring and pinky on the 3rd fret.
Open · G on top
C suspended 4th is played in open position as × 3 3 0 1 3: middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The G string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (4) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (5) |
8th fret · 8-8-10-10-8-8
C suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 10 10 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | F (4) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 3 | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (4) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
8th fret · 8-10-10-10-8-8
C suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 10 10 8 8: barre your index finger across 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 2 | G (5) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 3 | C (1) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (4) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 1 (e) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
Csus4/F inversion
C suspended 4th is played in open position as 1 3 3 0 1 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The G string rings open. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (4) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 4 | F (4) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 2 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
C suspended 4th uses the formula 1, 4, 5. The perfect 4th between C and F replaces the major 3rd, creating a suspended, unresolved quality. Compare it to C major, which contains E instead of F.
What goes wrong with C suspended 4th?
- The low E string rings out and adds an unwanted note; mute it with your thumb.
- Your pinky flattens and deadens the open G string next to it.
- The B string buzzes because your index finger is too far from the fret.
When to use it
C suspended 4th substitutes for C major in the I–IV–V–I progression in C major (C–F–G–C). It fits folk, pop, and worship music where a suspended sound adds lift before resolution.
Changing to and from C suspended 4th
- From C suspended 4th to C major, lift your pinky off the D string and place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string while keeping the other fingers in place.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 10th fret gives D suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the most practical shape for beginners. The Csus4/F inversion places F in the bass, creating a softer, less rooted sound for passing chords.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C suspended 4th written?
C suspended 4th is written as Csus or Csus4. The symbol 'sus' stands for suspended, indicating the 3rd is replaced by the 4th.
What is the difference between C suspended 4th and C major?
C suspended 4th replaces the major 3rd (E) with the perfect 4th (F). This removes the major quality and creates a suspended, unresolved sound that wants to resolve down to E.
Can C suspended 4th be used in minor keys?
C suspended 4th can appear in C natural minor, where the 4th is F and the 5th is G. It works as a substitution for C minor in progressions like Cm–Fm–Gm.