Explore chords · Ukulele
F 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele (F7sus4)
Also called or written F7sus4, F or F Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
F 7th suspended 4th contains F, B♭, C, and E♭. 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
How do you play an F 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
F 7th suspended 4th is played at the 1st fret as 3 3 1 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 2 | B♭ (4) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 3 on the 1st string while the index holds fret 1 on the 2nd, requiring a wide stretch.
5th fret
F 7th suspended 4th is played at the 5th fret as 5 5 6 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (5) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | B♭ (4) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (♭7) |
F7sus4/B♭ inversion
F 7th suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 8 8: index finger on the G string at fret 8, pinky finger on the C string at fret 10, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 4 | B♭ (4) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (5) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between F and B♭ replaces the major 3rd, suspending the chord. Compare it to F suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th E♭.
What goes wrong with F 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
F 7th suspended 4th works as the V chord in B♭ major progressions like B♭–E♭–F–B♭, the I–IV–V–I. It suits gospel, soul, and rock styles. Compare it to F minor to hear the difference in color.
Changing to and from F 7th suspended 4th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives G 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The B♭ inversion places the 4th in the bass, giving a grounded sound. The E♭ inversion, with the 7th in the bass, is darker and less stable. Choose the B♭ inversion for a fuller voicing.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F 7th suspended 4th written?
F 7th suspended 4th is written F7sus4 or F. The symbol F7sus4 is the most common.
What is the difference between F7sus4 and F7?
F7sus4 replaces the major 3rd A with the perfect 4th B♭. This removes the leading tone and creates a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can F7sus4 be used in place of F7?
Yes, F7sus4 often substitutes for F7 in dominant contexts. The suspension delays the resolution to the tonic chord.