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D suspended 4th chord on guitar (Dsus4)
Also called or written Dsus4, Dsus or D Suspended
D suspended 4th is built from D, G, and A. The open shape uses two muted strings and three fretted notes, making it a compact beginner voicing.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
- Root positionD–G–ADsus4×-×-0-2-3-3
- First inversionG–A–DDsus4/G3-0-0-0-3-3
- Second inversionA–D–GDsus4/A×-0-0-0-3-3
How do you play a D suspended 4th chord on guitar?
D suspended 4th is played in open position as × × 0 2 3 3: index finger on the G 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 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 | 1 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
BeginnerThe open shape requires muting two strings while fretting three notes cleanly, which can be tricky for beginners.
10th fret · 10-10-12-12-10-10
D suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 12 12 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the D 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) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (4) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
10th fret · 10-12-12-12-10-10
D suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 12 12 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, middle finger on the A string at fret 12, ring finger on the D 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 | 2 | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
Dsus4/G inversion · 3-0-0-0-3-3
D suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 0 0 0 3 3: index finger on the low E string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 3 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 | 1 | G (4) |
| 5 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (4) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
Dsus4/G inversion · 3-0-0-2-3-3
D suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 0 0 2 3 3: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, index 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 and D 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) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (4) |
Why it sounds like that
D suspended 4th uses the formula 1, 4, 5. The perfect 4th between D and G replaces the major 3rd, creating an open, suspended sound. Compare it to D major, which contains F♯ instead of G.
What goes wrong with D suspended 4th?
- The A string rings out and adds an unwanted note; mute it with your thumb.
- Your ring finger flattens and deadens the B string next to it.
- The G string buzzes because your index finger is too far from the fret.
When to use it
D suspended 4th substitutes for D major in the I–IV–V–I progression in D major (D–G–A–D). It suits folk, rock, and country strumming where the suspended sound adds motion.
Changing to and from D suspended 4th
- From D suspended 4th to D major, lift your middle finger off the B string and place it on the 2nd fret of the high e string while keeping the other fingers in place.
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives C suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the easiest and most common shape. The Dsus4/G inversion places G in the bass, giving a darker, more grounded sound for transitions.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D suspended 4th written?
D suspended 4th is written as Dsus or Dsus4. The symbol 'sus' stands for suspended, indicating the 3rd is replaced by the 4th.
What is the difference between D suspended 4th and D suspended 2nd?
D suspended 4th uses the 4th (G) instead of the 3rd, while D suspended 2nd uses the 2nd (E) instead of the 3rd. The sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve down to the major 3rd.
Can D suspended 4th be used in minor keys?
D suspended 4th can appear in D natural minor, where the 4th is G and the 5th is A. It works as a substitution for D minor in progressions like Dm–Gm–Am.