Tools / Chords / G suspended 4th

G suspended 4th chord on guitar (Gsus4)

Also written Gsus4, Gsus or G Suspended

G suspended 4th is built from G, C, and D. The open shape requires a three-fret stretch and uses all six strings, making it a moderate challenge.

Open · 3-3-0-0-1-33-3-0-0-1-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

G1Root

C4Perfect 4th

D5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 4, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionG–C–DGsus4Bass G

First inversionC–D–GGsus4/CBass C

Second inversionD–G–CGsus4/DBass D

Why it sounds like that

G suspended 4th uses the formula 1, 4, 5. The perfect 4th between G and C replaces the major 3rd, creating an open, suspended sound. Compare it to G major, which contains B instead of C.

What goes wrong with G suspended 4th?

Your pinky flattens and deadens the open G string next to it.
The B string buzzes because your index finger is too far from the fret.
Your ring finger touches the open D string and mutes it.

When to use it

G suspended 4th substitutes for G major in the I–IV–V–I progression in G major (G–C–D–G). It suits folk, rock, and country strumming where the suspended sound adds motion.

Changing to and from G suspended 4th

From G suspended 4th to G major, lift your index finger off the B string and place it on the 2nd fret of the B string while keeping the other fingers in place.
Sliding the shape up two frets to the 5th fret gives A suspended 4th.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the most practical shape for beginners. The Gsus4/C inversion places C in the bass, creating a softer, less rooted sound for passing chords.

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

Open · 3-3-0-0-1-3

Beginner● On the diagram

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

Tip — The open shape demands a wide stretch between the index finger on the 1st fret and the pinky on the 3rd fret.

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	C (4)
1 (e)	3	4	G (1)

Open · 3-3-0-0-3-3

Beginner

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

String-by-string breakdown

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

3rd fret · 3-3-5-5-3-3

Barre

G suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 5 5 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the D 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)	3	1 (barre)	C (4)
4 (D)	5	3	G (1)
3 (G)	5	4	C (4)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)

3rd fret · 3-5-5-5-3-3

Barre

G suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 5 5 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, middle finger on the A string at fret 5, ring finger on the D 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	2	D (5)
4 (D)	5	3	G (1)
3 (G)	5	4	C (4)
2 (B)	3	1 (barre)	D (5)
1 (e)	3	1 (barre)	G (1)

Gsus4/C inversion

Beginner

G suspended 4th is played in open position as × 3 0 0 1 3: middle finger on the A 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 D and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Common questions

How is G suspended 4th written?

G suspended 4th is written as Gsus or Gsus4. The symbol 'sus' stands for suspended, indicating the 3rd is replaced by the 4th.

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

G suspended 4th replaces the major 3rd (B) with the perfect 4th (C). This removes the major quality and creates a suspended, unresolved sound that wants to resolve down to B.

Can G suspended 4th be used in minor keys?

G suspended 4th can appear in G natural minor, where the 4th is C and the 5th is D. It works as a substitution for G minor in progressions like Gm–Cm–Dm.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (1)

5 (A)

C (4)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

C (4)

1 (e)

G (1)

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)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (4)

4 (D)

G (1)

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)

G (1)

3 (G)

C (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (4)

4 (D)

open

—

D (5)

3 (G)

open

—

G (1)

2 (B)

C (4)

1 (e)

G (1)