C♯sus4 chord on piano
The C♯sus4 chord, or C sharp suspended 4th, stacks 3 notes on C♯: C♯, F♯ and G♯. Musicians write its formula 1 4 5.
Notes and intervals of C♯sus4
Each note of C♯sus4 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (C♯), perfect 4th (F♯) and perfect 5th (G♯). 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 | C♯ |
| 4 | perfect 4th | F♯ |
| 5 | perfect 5th | G♯ |
How to play C♯sus4 on piano
Put your right-hand thumb on C♯, then add the other notes: C♯, F♯ and G♯. Teachers usually suggest the fingering 1-3-5 (left hand: 5-3-1). Press the keys together, release, and repeat until the chord sounds even.
Inversions of C♯sus4
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. C♯sus4 has 2 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (F♯ G♯ C♯) and 2nd inversion (G♯ C♯ F♯). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use C♯sus4?
C♯sus4 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 C♯sus4
These scales share every note of C♯sus4: C sharp major scale, C sharp natural minor scale, C sharp harmonic minor scale, C sharp melodic minor scale, C sharp minor pentatonic scale, C sharp blues scale, C sharp Dorian mode, C sharp Phrygian mode and C sharp Mixolydian mode. C sharp 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.
Play 1 4 5 with fingers 1, 3 or 4, and 5. Resolve by moving the fourth down a semitone to the major third while the other notes hold. A sus4 chord has the same notes as the sus2 a fourth above (for example Csus4 C F G and Fsus2 F G C).
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 C♯sus4 chord?
C♯sus4 (C sharp suspended 4th) contains C♯, F♯ and G♯. In intervals: root (C♯), perfect 4th (F♯) and perfect 5th (G♯).
How do you play C♯sus4 on piano?
Play C♯, F♯ and G♯ together with the right-hand fingering 1-3-5. You can also play it in 2 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with C♯sus4?
C sharp major scale fits C♯sus4 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: C sharp natural minor scale, C sharp harmonic minor scale, C sharp melodic minor scale, C sharp minor pentatonic scale, C sharp blues scale, C sharp Dorian mode, C sharp Phrygian mode and C sharp Mixolydian mode.
What key is C♯sus4 in?
C♯sus4 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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