Explore chords · Ukulele
F♯ suspended 4th chord on ukulele (F♯sus4)
Also called or written F♯sus4, F♯sus or F♯ Suspended
F♯ suspended 4th is built from F♯, B, and C♯. 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 an F♯ suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
F♯ suspended 4th is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 9 9: ring finger on the G string at fret 11, pinky finger on the C string at fret 11, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and middle finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 4 | B (4) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
IntermediateThe pinky must fret the C string at fret 11 while the index and middle hold fret 9, stretching the hand across four frets.
F♯sus4/B inversion · ×-11-9-9
F♯ suspended 4th is played at the 9th fret as × 11 9 9: ring finger on the C string at fret 11, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and middle 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) | 11 | 3 | B (4) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
F♯sus4/C♯ inversion
F♯ suspended 4th is played at the 1st fret as × 1 2 2: index finger on the C string at fret 1, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (4) |
6th fret
F♯ suspended 4th is played at the 6th fret as 6 6 7 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 6 and ring finger on the E string at fret 7. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (4) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
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 F♯ major, which has A♯ instead of B.
What goes wrong with F♯ 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
F♯ suspended 4th works as a tonic substitute in F♯ major, often in the I–IV–V–I progression: F♯–B–C♯–F♯. It suits pop and rock where the suspension adds motion. Use it before a F♯ major to create a lift.
Changing to and from F♯ suspended 4th
- Slide the whole shape down one fret to the 8th fret to play F suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The 9th fret voicing has F♯ in the bass and is the most complete. The F♯sus4/B inversion puts B in the bass for a softer, less grounded sound. The F♯sus4/C♯ inversions place C♯ in the bass, adding tension that wants to resolve upward.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ suspended 4th written?
F♯ suspended 4th is written F♯sus or F♯sus4. The ASCII root is F#, so F#sus and F#sus4 are also used. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯sus4 and F♯sus2?
F♯sus4 replaces the third with a fourth (B), while F♯sus2 replaces it with a second (G♯). F♯sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve to the major third.
Can I use F♯ suspended 4th in place of F♯ 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 F♯ major.