Explore the Gsus4 Chord: Fretboard Shapes and Musical Context
Gsus4, the G suspended fourth chord, uses G, C and D, which gives a root, a perfect fourth and a perfect fifth. The C replaces the B of G major, and moving it down a step lands on the major chord.
This page lists four shapes, one with an open string and three with a barre, from fret 1 to fret 13. Press play on the player at the top to hear each one strummed and as an arpeggio. A scale for solos is the G Mixolydian scale, which contains G, C and D.
G suspended 4th guitar chord is also written as Gsus4, Gsus or G4.
Gsus4 Chord Notes and Formula
Notes in the G sus4 chord:
Chord Formula:
Formula: 1 4 5
Gsus4 Chord Interactive Fretboard
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Gsus4 Guitar Chord Diagrams
Position 1 Open
G Suspended Fourth Finger Positions
- Mute the A string
- Let the D string play without pressing any fret
- Let the G string play without pressing any fret
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 1 of the B string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the low E string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 3 of the high E string
Position 2 Barre Movable
G Suspended Fourth Finger Positions
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the low E, A, B and high E strings at the same time
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the G string
Position 3 Barre Movable
G Suspended Fourth Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 10 of the A and high E strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 12 of the D string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 12 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 13 of the B string
Position 4 Barre Movable
G Suspended Fourth Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the A string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the B and high E strings at the same time
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the G string
Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
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Chords That Go With Gsus4
One key where Gsus4 fits is G major, where it works as the I chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:
See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.
More G Chords
Want to know how this chord is built? Read suspended chords explained, or browse all G guitar chords.
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
Which notes does Gsus4 use?
Gsus4 is spelled G, C and D. That gives a root, a perfect fourth and a perfect fifth. The C sits a half step from the B of G major.
How many voicings does Gsus4 have?
Gsus4 has 4 voicings, from fret 1 up to fret 13. One uses open strings, and three use a barre.
Is Gsus4 the same chord as Csus2?
They contain the same notes, G, C and D, so they sound alike. The name depends on which note is heard as the root.
Which scale fits Gsus4?
The G Mixolydian Scale (G, A, B, C, D, E, F) contains G, C and D. The chord uses its 1st, 4th and 5th degrees.
