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C 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele (C7sus4)
Also called or written C7sus4, C or C Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
C 7th suspended 4th contains C, F, G, and B♭. The default voicing stretches the fretting hand across four frets, making it a demanding shape for ukulele.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
- Root positionC–F–G–B♭C7sus40-0-1-1
- First inversionF–G–B♭–CC7sus4/F3-5-3-3
- Second inversionG–B♭–C–FC7sus4/G0-0-1-1
- Third inversionB♭–C–F–GC7sus4/B♭10-10-8-10
How do you play a C 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
C 7th suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 10 10 8 10: middle finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 2 | F (4) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 10 on the 1st string while the index holds fret 8 on the 2nd, requiring a wide stretch.
Open
C 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 0 0 1 1: index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G and C strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | C (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (4) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭7) |
C7sus4/F inversion
C 7th suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 3: index finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 4 | F (4) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between C and F replaces the major 3rd, suspending the chord. Compare it to C suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th B♭.
What goes wrong with C 7th suspended 4th?
- The 2nd string buzzes because the index finger is too far from the fret.
- The 1st string is muted by the pinky collapsing onto it.
- The 4th string sounds dull because the middle finger is not pressing firmly.
When to use it
C 7th suspended 4th works as the V chord in F major progressions like F–B♭–C–F, the I–IV–V–I. It suits gospel, soul, and rock styles. Compare it to C minor to hear the difference in color.
Changing to and from C 7th suspended 4th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives B♭ 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 9th fret gives B 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The F inversion places the 4th in the bass, giving a grounded sound. The G inversion, with the 5th in the bass, is brighter and more open. Choose the F inversion for a fuller voicing.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C 7th suspended 4th written?
C 7th suspended 4th is written C7sus4 or C. The symbol C7sus4 is the most common.
What is the difference between C7sus4 and C7?
C7sus4 replaces the major 3rd E with the perfect 4th F. This removes the leading tone and creates a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can C7sus4 be used in place of C7?
Yes, C7sus4 often substitutes for C7 in dominant contexts. The suspension delays the resolution to the tonic chord.