Gsus4 Chord on Guitar
Notes G C D. Start with the 4-string Gsus4 (x x 0 0 1 3): index on string 2 fret 1, ring on string 1 fret 3, open D and G strings.
Chord · Gsus4 suspended 4th
Easy Gsus4 (4 strings) · x x 0 0 1 3
open strings
Open Gsus4 · 3 3 0 0 1 3
open strings
Esus4-shape barre (fret 3) · 3 5 5 5 3 3
barre, movable
Asus4-shape barre (fret 10) · x 10 12 12 13 10
barre, movable
1 G4 C5 D
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): open
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 3
- String 6 (low E): ring (3), fret 3
- String 5 (A): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 4 (D): open
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 3
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 3
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 3
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 5
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 5
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 3
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 3
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 10
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 10
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 12
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 12
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 13
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 10
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from G |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | root |
| 4 | C | perfect 4th |
| 5 | D | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 4 5 (suspended 4th).
Also written Gsus, G suspended 4th.
More on this chord type: Sus chords
Capo shapes that sound as Gsus4
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Esus4 shape + capo 3
Dsus4 shape + capo 5
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Keys that contain Gsus4
| Key | Gsus4 is the |
|---|---|
| G major | Isus4 |
| G minor | Isus4 |
| C major | Vsus4 |
| C minor | Vsus4 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Gsus4: what goes wrong
Gsus4 to G
Gsus4 has C, the 4th, where G major has B, the 3rd. Lift the index off string 2 fret 1 and the open B sounds: x x 0 0 1 3 becomes the easy G, x x 0 0 0 3.
The six-string version
In 3 3 0 0 1 3 the ring finger is on string 6 and the pinky on string 5 at fret 3, the index on string 2 fret 1 and the middle finger on string 1 fret 3. All six strings ring.
Gsus4 in G and C
Gsus4 is the I chord of G major or minor and the V chord of C major. Gsus4 to G before C is the classic way to lead into C.
Related chords
Learn and practise Gsus4
- Metronomepractise the change to Gsus4 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Gsus4?
G, C, D: the 1, 4, 5 of the Gsus4 suspended 4th chord.
What is the difference between Gsus4 and G?
Gsus4 swaps B, the 3rd, for C, the 4th: G, C, D. G major is G, B, D.