Also written Dsus4, Dsus or D Suspended
D suspended 4th is built from D, G, and A. This open voicing is a beginner-friendly shape with no barre and a bright, ringing top string.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
D suspended 4th uses the formula 1, 4, 5. The perfect 4th between D and G replaces the major 3rd, removing the chord's major or minor quality. Compare it with D major, which has an F♯ instead of G.
D suspended 4th works as a suspension in D major, often resolving to D major. Try it in the I–IV–V–I progression: D major–G major–A major–D major. It suits folk, rock, and pop styles where a suspended sound adds tension.
The open position is the easiest and most common, with D in the bass. The Dsus4/G inversion at the 7th fret puts G in the bass, giving a different color for when you want a less stable sound.
D suspended 4th is played in open position as 2 2 3 0: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 2 and ring finger on the E string at fret 3. The A string rings open.
Tip — The hardest part is keeping the open A string clear while fretting the adjacent strings.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
D suspended 4th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 3 5: 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 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (5) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (4) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (1) |
D suspended 4th is played at the 5th fret as 7 7 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, middle finger on the G string at fret 7 and ring finger on the C string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (4) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 (barre) | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
D suspended 4th is played in open position as 0 2 3 0: index finger on the C string at fret 2 and middle finger on the E string at fret 3. The G and A strings ring open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (4) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (4) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (5) |
D suspended 4th is played in open position as 0 2 5 5: index finger on the C string at fret 2, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and ring finger on the A string at fret 5. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (4) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 | D (1) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
D suspended 4th is written as Dsus or Dsus4. The symbol Dsus4 is more common, but Dsus is also used.
D suspended 4th uses the 4th (G) instead of the 3rd, while D suspended 2nd uses the 2nd (E) instead of the 3rd. They both have a suspended quality but different tensions.
Yes, D suspended 4th can appear in D natural minor, where the 4th is G and the 5th is A. It works as a suspension resolving to D minor.
The perfect 4th interval between D and G creates tension that wants to resolve down to the major 3rd (F♯) in D major. This tension is what gives the chord its suspended character.