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D 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele (D7sus4)
Also called or written D7sus4, D or D Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
D 7th suspended 4th contains D, G, A, and C. 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 positionD–G–A–CD7sus42-2-3-3
- First inversionG–A–C–DD7sus4/G5-7-5-5
- Second inversionA–C–D–GD7sus4/A2-2-3-3
- Third inversionC–D–G–AD7sus4/C12-12-10-12
How do you play a D 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
D 7th suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 12 12 10 12: middle finger on the G string at fret 12, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, index finger on the E string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (4) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 1 | D (1) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 12 on the 1st string while the index holds fret 10 on the 2nd, requiring a wide stretch.
2nd fret
D 7th suspended 4th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 3 3: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 2, ring finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭7) |
D7sus4/G inversion
D 7th suspended 4th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 5 5: index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and ring finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | G (4) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between D and G replaces the major 3rd, suspending the chord. Compare it to D suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th C.
What goes wrong with D 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
D 7th suspended 4th works as the V chord in G major progressions like G–C–D–G, the I–IV–V–I. It suits folk, rock, and blues feels. Compare it to D minor to hear the difference in color.
Changing to and from D 7th suspended 4th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives C 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 11th fret gives C♯ 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The G inversion places the 4th in the bass, giving a grounded sound. The C inversion, with the 7th in the bass, is darker and less stable. Choose the G inversion for a fuller voicing.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D 7th suspended 4th written?
D 7th suspended 4th is written D7sus4 or D. The symbol D7sus4 is the most common.
What is the difference between D7sus4 and D7?
D7sus4 replaces the major 3rd F♯ with the perfect 4th G. This removes the leading tone and creates a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can D7sus4 be used in place of D7?
Yes, D7sus4 often substitutes for D7 in dominant contexts. The suspension delays the resolution to the tonic chord.