Csus4 (C suspended fourth) is built from 3 notes: C, F, G.
- Croot
- Fperfect fourth
- Gperfect fifth
Formula: 1, 4, 5
How to play Csus4 on guitar
x 3 3 0 1 1x 3 5 5 6 38 10 10 10 8 8Read the diagrams with the low E string on the left. × means do not play that string, ○ means play it open.
How to play Csus4 on piano
Play C, F, G together. With your right hand, use fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb on C). Your left hand can play C an octave lower for a fuller sound.
How Csus4 is used
A sus4 chord takes out the third and puts the fourth in its place. Csus4 has F where C has E. With no third, the chord is neither major nor minor, and it sounds like it is waiting to go somewhere.
Most of the time the F drops one step and the chord settles back into C. Try these:
- C - Csus4 - C: a quick change that adds movement while you strum one chord.
- Csus4 - C - F: the sus4 builds a little tension before the five chord resolves to F.
Related chords
Change this chord into another key with the Chord Transposer, or look up any other chord or scale in the Chord and Scale Finder.