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D 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar (D7sus4)
Also called or written D7sus4, D or D Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
D 7th suspended 4th contains D, G, A, and C. The open voicing mutes the two lowest strings, leaving the open D string as the bass.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
- Root positionD–G–A–CD7sus4×-×-0-2-1-3
- First inversionG–A–C–DD7sus4/G3-0-0-0-1-3
- Second inversionA–C–D–GD7sus4/A×-0-0-0-1-3
- Third inversionC–D–G–AD7sus4/C×-3-0-2-1-3
How do you play a D 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar?
D 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as × × 0 2 1 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
AdvancedMuting the low E and A strings while fretting three notes on the upper strings requires precise finger independence.
10th fret · 10-10-10-12-10-10
D 7th suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 12 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (4) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
10th fret · 10-12-10-12-10-10
D 7th suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 12 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 3 | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
D7sus4/G inversion · 3-0-0-0-1-3
D 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 0 0 0 1 3: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (4) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
D7sus4/G inversion · 3-0-0-2-1-3
D 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 0 0 2 1 3: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, middle finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The A and D strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (4) |
Why it sounds like that
D 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between D and G replaces the major 3rd, creating the suspended quality. The minor 7th from D to C adds a dominant function. Compare with D suspended 4th, which lacks the ♭7.
What goes wrong with D 7th suspended 4th?
- Allowing the A string to ring, which adds a non-chord tone below the D bass.
- Fretting the G string with the middle finger too flat, which deadens the B string next to it.
- Strumming all six strings without muting the low E and A, muddying the voicing.
When to use it
D 7th suspended 4th functions as a dominant in G major, such as in the I–IV–V–I progression G–C–D–G. It also fits D natural minor and D minor pentatonic lines. Use it for a suspended dominant sound in folk and rock.
Changing to and from D 7th suspended 4th
- Move to D minor by lifting the middle finger from the G string, letting it ring open.
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives C 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps D in the bass and suits lighter strumming. The 10th fret barre voicings offer a fuller sound with the root on the low E string. The D7sus4/G inversion places G in the bass, useful for stepwise bass movement.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D 7th suspended 4th written?
D 7th suspended 4th is written as D7sus4 or D7sus. It is also called Dominant 7th Suspended 4th.
What is the difference between D7sus4 and D7?
D7sus4 replaces the major 3rd (F♯) with a perfect 4th (G). D7 contains F♯, giving it a major quality, while D7sus4 has a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can D7sus4 resolve to D major?
Yes, D7sus4 often resolves to D major by moving the G note down to F♯. This resolution is common in dominant-to-tonic progressions.
What scales work over D7sus4?
D natural minor, D minor pentatonic, D blues minor, and D dorian all contain the chord tones D, G, A, and C. These scales emphasize the suspended 4th and ♭7.