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G 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele (G7sus4)
Also called or written G7sus4, G or G Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
G 7th suspended 4th contains G, C, D, and F. The open position uses two open strings, making it one of the easier voicings for this chord.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
- Root positionG–C–D–FG7sus47-7-8-8
- First inversionC–D–F–GG7sus4/C10-12-10-10
- Second inversionD–F–G–CG7sus4/D0-2-1-3
- Third inversionF–G–C–DG7sus4/F5-5-3-5
How do you play a G 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
G 7th suspended 4th is played in open position as 0 2 1 3: middle finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 2 | D (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (4) |
AdvancedThe ring finger must fret the 1st string at fret 3 while the index holds the 2nd string at fret 1, requiring precise placement.
G7sus4/F inversion
G 7th suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as 5 5 3 5: middle finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 2 | C (4) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (5) |
7th fret
G 7th suspended 4th is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 8 8: index finger on the G string at fret 7, middle finger on the C string at fret 7, ring finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (5) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 2 | G (1) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 3 | C (4) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (♭7) |
G7sus4/C inversion
G 7th suspended 4th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 10: index finger on the G string at fret 10, pinky finger on the C string at fret 12, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 4 | C (4) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (5) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
G 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between G and C replaces the major 3rd, suspending the chord. Compare it to G suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th F.
What goes wrong with G 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 ring finger collapsing onto it.
- The 3rd string sounds dull because the middle finger is not pressing firmly.
When to use it
G 7th suspended 4th works as the V chord in C major progressions like C–F–G–C, the I–IV–V–I. It suits folk, rock, and blues feels. Compare it to G minor to hear the difference in color.
Changing to and from G 7th suspended 4th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives F 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The open position places the root G in the bass, giving a bright, open sound. The F inversion, with the 7th in the bass, is darker and less stable. Choose the open position for a fuller voicing.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G 7th suspended 4th written?
G 7th suspended 4th is written G7sus4 or G. The symbol G7sus4 is the most common.
What is the difference between G7sus4 and G7?
G7sus4 replaces the major 3rd B with the perfect 4th C. This removes the leading tone and creates a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can G7sus4 be used in place of G7?
Yes, G7sus4 often substitutes for G7 in dominant contexts. The suspension delays the resolution to the tonic chord.