Csus4 chord
Csus4 is C, F and G: 1–4–5 built on C. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
x-3-3-0-1-1 · open · medium
- Notes
- C · F · G
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- First shape
- x-3-3-0-1-1
Csus4 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · C–F–G · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C · F · G
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
Csus4 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
0-0-1-3 · open · easy
- Notes
- C · F · G
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- First shape
- 0-0-1-3
Csus4 and the chords around it
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- Csus4 → C (resolves down to the third)
Guitar: Csus4 (x-3-3-0-1-1) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): your index and ring fingers stay put, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret. An easy one to get up to speed. Shared notes: C and G.
Piano: Csus4 to C: play C in root position (C–E–G) and C and G stay under the same fingers, while F moves down to E. C - Csus4 → F (IV in C major)
Guitar: Csus4 (x-3-3-0-1-1) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): your ring and pinky fingers stay put, the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret. Listen for C and F, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Csus4 to F: play F in 2nd inversion (C–F–A) and C and F stay under the same fingers, while G moves up to A. F - Csus4 → G (V in C major)
Guitar: Csus4 (x-3-3-0-1-1) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the low E string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the high E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: G.
Piano: Csus4 to G: play G in 1st inversion (B–D–G) and G stays under the same finger, while C moves down to B and F down to D. G
Guitar with a capo: capo 3, Asus4 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 5, Gsus4 shape.
How Csus4 is built
Csus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. The suspended note wants to fall back, so Csus4 usually resolves to C major: play Csus4 then C and you'll hear it settle.
From C, go 5 half steps up to F then 2 half steps up to G.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | root | 0 | |
| F | perfect fourth | 5 | |
| G | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with Csus4
No major or natural minor key contains Csus4 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
Chords close to Csus4
- Csus4 and C differ by one note: F in Csus4, E in C. They share C and G. C
- Csus4 and Csus2 differ by one note: F in Csus4, D in Csus2. They share C and G. Csus2
Chords that share most of their notes with Csus4: Fsus2, Fadd9, F9, C, Cm, Csus2.
Every C chord
Csus4 chord: questions
What notes are in the Csus4 chord?
C, F and G. Csus4 is built 1–4–5 from C: F is the perfect fourth and G is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Csus4 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-3-3-0-1-1 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Csus4 on piano?
Play C, F and G with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. C sits just left of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Csus4 on ukulele?
0-0-1-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Csus4 in?
No major or natural minor key contains Csus4 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
What's the difference between Csus4 and C?
Csus4 and C differ by one note: F in Csus4, E in C. They share C and G.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.