Tools / Chords / G 7th suspended 4th

G 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar (G7sus4)

Also written G7sus4, G or G Dominant 7th Suspended 4th

G 7th suspended 4th contains G, C, D, and F. The open voicing uses a two-string barre on the B and high E strings, with the root on the low E string.

Open · 3-3-0-0-1-13-3-0-0-1-1

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

C4Perfect 4th

D5Perfect 5th

F♭7Minor 7th

Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionG–C–D–FG7sus4Bass G

First inversionC–D–F–GG7sus4/CBass C

Second inversionD–F–G–CG7sus4/DBass D

Third inversionF–G–C–DG7sus4/FBass F

Why it sounds like that

G 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th from G to C replaces the major 3rd, creating the suspended quality. Compare it to G suspended 4th, which lacks the minor 7th F.

What goes wrong with G 7th suspended 4th?

The high E string buzzes because the index barre doesn't press evenly.
The open D string is accidentally muted by the ring finger.
The low E string sounds dull because the middle finger is not close enough to the fret.

When to use it

G 7th suspended 4th functions as the V chord in C major, resolving to C major in a I–IV–V–I progression. It also fits G minor and G 5th chords, adding a suspended dominant color. Use it in rock, blues, and gospel where a full six-string voicing is needed.

Changing to and from G 7th suspended 4th

Move to C major by lifting the middle and ring fingers and placing the index finger on the 1st fret of the B string.
Slide the shape down two frets to the 1st fret to play F 7th suspended 4th.

Which voicing to use

The open voicing keeps the bass on G and is the most accessible grip. The 3rd fret barre version offers a higher register with the same bass note, useful for adding brightness.

How do you play a G 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar?

Open · 3-3-0-0-1-1

Barre● On the diagram

G 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 3 0 0 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open.

Tip — The index finger must barre the B and high E strings cleanly at the 1st fret while the middle and ring fingers hold the 3rd fret on the low strings.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	2	G (1)
5 (A)	3	3	C (4)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	open	—	G (1)
2 (B)	1	1 (barre)	C (4)
1 (e)	1	1 (barre)	F (♭7)

Open · 3-3-0-0-3-1

Beginner

G 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 3 0 0 3 1: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the B string at fret 3 and index finger on the high e string at fret 1. The D and G strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	2	G (1)
5 (A)	3	3	C (4)
4 (D)	open	—	D (5)
3 (G)	open	—	G (1)
2 (B)	3	4	D (5)
1 (e)	1	1	F (♭7)

Open · 3-3-3-0-3-×

Beginner

G 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 3 3 0 3 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 3, middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 3. The G string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	1	G (1)
5 (A)	3	2	C (4)
4 (D)	3	3	F (♭7)
3 (G)	open	—	G (1)
2 (B)	3	4	D (5)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

3rd fret · 3-3-3-5-3-3

Barre

G 7th suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 5 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)
5 (A)	3	1 (barre)	C (4)
4 (D)	3	1 (barre)	F (♭7)
3 (G)	5	4	C (4)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)

3rd fret · 3-5-3-5-3-3

Barre

G 7th suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 5 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)
5 (A)	5	3	D (5)
4 (D)	3	1 (barre)	F (♭7)
3 (G)	5	4	C (4)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)

Common questions

What is the difference between G 7th suspended 4th and G suspended 4th?

G 7th suspended 4th adds the minor 7th F to the G suspended 4th triad. That extra note gives it a dominant function and a stronger pull toward C major.

Why is there no muted string in the open position?

All six strings are chord tones, so the open voicing uses every string. The low E string is fretted at the 3rd fret to provide the root G.

Can G 7th suspended 4th be played as a barre chord?

Yes, the 3rd fret position uses a full barre across all six strings. That shape is movable and gives a thicker, more sustained sound.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

C (4)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

C (4)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

C (4)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

F (♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

C (4)

4 (D)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

D (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (4)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

C (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

D (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F (♭7)

3 (G)

C (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (1)