Chord · Suspended 4th Key of C

Csus4 Chord on guitar · voicings, notes & diagram

The Csus4 chord contains the notes C, F, G. Tension that wants to resolve — the 3rd is replaced with the 4th, which usually drops back to a 3.

Voicings

How to play Csus4.

Csus4 8fr 1 2 3 4 1 1 E A D G B E

E-shape

Csus4 3fr × 1 2 3 4 1 E A D G B E

A-shape

Every chord tone on the neck

EADGBE 35791215 Root Scale note

Notes & intervals.

# Degree Note
1 1 C root
2 4 F
3 5 G

Sound & use

Tension that wants to resolve — the 3rd is replaced with the 4th, which usually drops back to a 3.

Classic rock tension before resolving to a major (the "Pinball Wizard" sound). Adds drama to a held chord.

Common in: rock, pop, country, folk

Try it interactively

Chord encyclopedia →

Same key

Other chords in the key of C.

C

Major

Cm

Minor

Cdim

Diminished

Caug

Augmented

Csus2

Suspended 2nd

C7

Dominant 7

Cmaj7

Major 7

Cm7

Minor 7

Cm7b5

Minor 7♭5

Cdim7

Diminished 7

Cm(maj7)

Minor-Major 7

C6

Major 6

Cm6

Minor 6

Cadd9

Add 9

Cm(add9)

Minor Add 9

C9

Dominant 9

Cmaj9

Major 9

Cm9

Minor 9

All keys

Suspended 4th chord in every key.

C♯sus4

Dsus4

D♯sus4

Esus4

Fsus4

F♯sus4

Gsus4

G♯sus4

Asus4

A♯sus4

Bsus4

FAQ

About the Csus4 chord
on guitar.

What notes are in the Csus4 chord?

The Csus4 chord contains the notes C, F, G — that's a 1, 4, 5 from the root.

How do I play Csus4 on guitar?

The most common voicings for Csus4 are shown above as fretboard diagrams. Start with the e-shape — finger position numbers are inside the dots. Mute any string marked X; play open strings shown with O.

Where is Csus4 used in music?

Tension that wants to resolve — the 3rd is replaced with the 4th, which usually drops back to a 3. Classic rock tension before resolving to a major (the "Pinball Wizard" sound). Adds drama to a held chord.

What's a movable shape for Csus4?

Both E-shape (root on the 6th string) and A-shape (root on the 5th string) barre versions are common. Once you can play those two shapes, you can play Suspended 4th in any key just by sliding up or down the neck.

Can I print the Csus4 chord diagram?

Yes. Use your browser's print function (Cmd/Ctrl + P) — the SVG diagrams print crisply at any size. For a custom voicing or a printable handout with multiple chords, use the chord chart generator.