Explore chords · Guitar
G 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar (G7sus4)
Also called or written G7sus4, G or G Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
G 7th suspended 4th contains G, C, D, and F. The open voicing frets the low E and A strings at the 3rd fret while leaving the D and G strings open.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
- Root positionG–C–D–FG7sus43-3-0-0-1-1
- First inversionC–D–F–GG7sus4/C×-3-0-0-1-1
- Second inversionD–F–G–CG7sus4/D×-×-0-0-1-1
- Third inversionF–G–C–DG7sus4/F1-3-0-0-1-1
How do you play a G 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar?
G 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 3 3 0 0 1 1: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A 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 D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (4) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (4) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | F (♭7) |
AdvancedFretting the low E and A strings with the ring and pinky while keeping the D and G strings open requires careful finger arching.
Open · 3-3-0-0-3-1
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.
Full note and interval 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-×
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
Why it sounds like that
G 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between G and C replaces the major 3rd, creating the suspended quality. The minor 7th from G to F adds a dominant function. Compare with G suspended 4th, which omits the ♭7.
What goes wrong with G 7th suspended 4th?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the D string, which deadens the open D note.
- Fretting the B and high e strings with too much pressure, causing them to buzz.
- Strumming too hard and overpowering the open strings with the fretted low notes.
When to use it
G 7th suspended 4th functions as a dominant in C major, such as in the I–IV–V–I progression C–F–G–C. It also fits G natural minor and G minor pentatonic lines. Use it for a suspended dominant sound in blues and rock.
Changing to and from G 7th suspended 4th
- Move to G suspended 4th by lifting the index and middle fingers from the B and high e strings, letting them ring open.
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives F 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The open voicing keeps G in the bass and suits strummed passages. The 3rd fret barre voicings offer a fuller sound with the root on the low E string. Choose the open shape for a lighter texture and the barre shape for more projection.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G 7th suspended 4th written?
G 7th suspended 4th is written as G7sus4 or G7sus. It is also called Dominant 7th Suspended 4th.
What is the difference between G7sus4 and G7?
G7sus4 replaces the major 3rd (B) with a perfect 4th (C). G7 contains B, giving it a major quality, while G7sus4 has a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can G7sus4 resolve to G major?
Yes, G7sus4 often resolves to G major by moving the C note down to B. This resolution is common in dominant-to-tonic progressions.
What scales work over G7sus4?
G natural minor, G minor pentatonic, G blues minor, and G dorian all contain the chord tones G, C, D, and F. These scales emphasize the suspended 4th and ♭7.