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C♯ 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele (C♯7sus4)
Also called or written C♯7sus4, 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♯–BC♯7sus41-1-2-2
- First inversionF♯–G♯–B–C♯C♯7sus4/F♯4-6-4-4
- Second inversionG♯–B–C♯–F♯C♯7sus4/G♯1-1-2-2
- Third inversionB–C♯–F♯–G♯C♯7sus4/B11-11-9-11
How do you play a C♯ 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
C♯ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 9 11: middle finger on the G string at fret 11, ring finger on the C string at fret 11, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (4) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 11 on the 1st string while the index holds fret 9 on the 2nd, requiring a wide stretch.
1st fret
C♯ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 2 2: index finger on the G string at fret 1, middle finger on the C string at fret 1, ring finger on the E string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (4) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 4 | B (♭7) |
C♯7sus4/F♯ inversion
C♯ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 4 4: index finger on the G string at fret 4, pinky finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 4 | F♯ (4) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 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 not close enough to 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 rock, blues, and folk feels. 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 9th fret gives B 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 10th fret gives C 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The F♯ inversion places the 4th in the bass, giving a grounded sound. The B inversion, with the 7th in the bass, is darker and less stable. 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 C♯7sus4 or C♯. On a keyboard, use C#7sus4. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯7sus4 and C♯7?
C♯7sus4 replaces the major 3rd E♯ with the perfect 4th F♯. This removes the leading tone and creates a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can C♯7sus4 be used in place of C♯7?
Yes, C♯7sus4 often substitutes for C♯7 in dominant contexts. The suspension delays the resolution to the tonic chord.