Gsus4 chord on guitar
The Gsus4 chord, or G suspended 4th, stacks 3 notes on G: G, C and D. Musicians write its formula 1 4 5.
Notes and intervals of Gsus4
Each note of Gsus4 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (G), perfect 4th (C) and perfect 5th (D). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 4 5 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | G |
| 4 | perfect 4th | C |
| 5 | perfect 5th | D |
How to play Gsus4 on guitar
Start with the first diagram: 3 3 0 0 1 3, read from the 6th string (low E) to the 1st string (high E). Your lowest note is G. The next positions give the same notes in a different order, which is useful when you want Gsus4 to sit closer to the surrounding chords.
Let the open strings ring: strum slowly once and check that every note sounds clean before you speed up.
Which keys use Gsus4?
Gsus4 is not built from the notes of a single major key, so it usually appears as a colour chord: a borrowed chord, a passing chord or a suspension that resolves to the next chord.
Scales to play over Gsus4
These scales share every note of Gsus4: G major scale, G natural minor scale, G harmonic minor scale, G melodic minor scale, G minor pentatonic scale, G blues scale, G Dorian mode, G Phrygian mode and G Mixolydian mode. G major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About sus4 chords
The third is replaced by a perfect fourth: 1 4 5. The fourth leans on the third it replaces, so the chord sounds expectant, as if holding its breath before resolving. It is the most common sus chord, and 'sus' alone usually means sus4. For example Asus4: A D E.
The classic gesture is sus4 to major on the same root, especially on V before the cadence: Vsus4 V I. Rock riffs alternate sus4 and major in one bar, folk players decorate open chords with it, and gospel and soul use a 9sus4 voicing, often written IV/V (for example F/G), as a softer dominant.
Open Dsus4 (xx0233), Asus4 (x02230) and Esus4 (022200) are one finger away from their major chords. Movable: in the E-shape barre, raise the third on the 3rd string by one fret; in the A-shape barre, raise the third on the 2nd string by one fret. Alternate sus4 and major with that single finger to build riffs.
Do not add the third to a sus4 chord: it cancels the suspension and creates a harsh clash. A sus4 usually resolves to the major chord, though resolving to minor is possible in a minor key. And 7sus4 is not the same as 7: it keeps the ♭7 but still has no third, so it sounds softer and more open.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Gsus4 chord?
Gsus4 (G suspended 4th) contains G, C and D. In intervals: root (G), perfect 4th (C) and perfect 5th (D).
How do you play Gsus4 on guitar?
The easiest shape is 3 3 0 0 1 3, from the low E string to the high E string. This page shows 3 positions with finger numbers.
What scale goes with Gsus4?
G major scale fits Gsus4 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: G natural minor scale, G harmonic minor scale, G melodic minor scale, G minor pentatonic scale, G blues scale, G Dorian mode, G Phrygian mode and G Mixolydian mode.
What key is Gsus4 in?
Gsus4 does not belong to a single major key. It is used as a colour chord that borrows notes from outside the key.
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