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C♯ suspended 4th chord on ukulele (C♯sus4)
Also called or written C♯sus4, C♯sus or C♯ Suspended
C♯ suspended 4th is built from C♯, F♯, and G♯. The default voicing spans four frets and uses all four fingers, so it is not a beginner shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
How do you play a C♯ suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
C♯ suspended 4th is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 4 4: ring finger on the G string at fret 6, pinky finger on the C string at fret 6, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 4 | F♯ (4) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
IntermediateThe pinky must fret the C string at fret 6 while the index and middle hold fret 4, stretching the hand across four frets.
C♯sus4/F♯ inversion · ×-6-4-4
C♯ suspended 4th is played at the 4th fret as × 6 4 4: ring finger on the C string at fret 6, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | F♯ (4) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
1st fret
C♯ suspended 4th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 2 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 1, middle finger on the C string at fret 1 and ring finger on the E string at fret 2. The A string stays muted.
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) | muted | — | — |
C♯sus4/G♯ inversion
C♯ suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as × 8 9 9: index finger on the C string at fret 8, middle finger on the E string at fret 9 and ring finger on the A string at fret 9. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (4) |
Why it sounds like that
The formula 1, 4, 5 replaces the third with a perfect fourth, removing major or minor quality. The fourth interval creates the suspended sound. Compare with C♯ major, which has E♯ instead of F♯.
What goes wrong with C♯ suspended 4th?
- Let the pinky collapse and mute the E string.
- Press the index finger too hard, causing the A string to buzz.
When to use it
C♯ suspended 4th works as a tonic substitute in C♯ major, often in the I–IV–V–I progression: C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯. It suits pop and rock where the suspension adds motion. Use it before a C♯ major to create a lift.
Changing to and from C♯ suspended 4th
- Slide the whole shape down one fret to the 3rd fret to play C suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret voicing has C♯ in the bass and is the most complete. The C♯sus4/F♯ inversion puts F♯ in the bass for a softer, less grounded sound. The C♯sus4/G♯ inversions place G♯ in the bass, adding tension that wants to resolve upward.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ suspended 4th written?
C♯ suspended 4th is written C♯sus or C♯sus4. The ASCII root is C#, so C#sus and C#sus4 are also used. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯sus4 and C♯sus2?
C♯sus4 replaces the third with a fourth (F♯), while C♯sus2 replaces it with a second (D♯). C♯sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve to the major third.
Can I use C♯ suspended 4th in place of C♯ major?
Yes, but only when the melody does not need the major third. The suspension creates a floating quality that resolves when you return to C♯ major.