Tools / Chords / D suspended 4th

D suspended 4th chord on guitar (Dsus4)

Also 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.

Open×-×-0-2-3-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

D1Root

G4Perfect 4th

A5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 4, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionD–G–ADsus4Bass D

First inversionG–A–DDsus4/GBass G

Second inversionA–D–GDsus4/ABass A

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.

How do you play a D suspended 4th chord on guitar?

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

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.

Tip — The open shape requires muting two strings while fretting three notes cleanly, which can be tricky for beginners.

String-by-string 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)

10th fret · 10-10-12-12-10-10

Barre

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.

String-by-string 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

Barre

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.

String-by-string 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

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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)

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.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

G (4)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

D (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

G (4)

4 (D)

D (1)

3 (G)

G (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

A (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

D (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

D (1)

5 (A)

A (5)

4 (D)

D (1)

3 (G)

G (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

A (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

D (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (4)

5 (A)

open

—

A (5)

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

open

—

G (4)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

G (4)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (4)

5 (A)

open

—

A (5)

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

G (4)