Gsus4 chord on guitar

Gsus4 is G, C and D. The usual shape is 3-5-5-5-3-3, a barre at the 3rd fret. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

3-5-5-5-3-3 · barre · medium

Notes: G · C · D
Formula: 1 · 4 · 5
First shape: 3-5-5-5-3-3

How to play Gsus4 on guitar

Shape 1, 3-5-5-5-3-3, reading from the low E string on the left, starts at the 3rd fret:

Barre the 3rd fret with your index finger, covering all the strings.
Put your middle finger on the A string at the 5th fret, which is D.
Put your ring finger on the D string at the 5th fret, which is G.
Put your pinky finger on the G string at the 5th fret, which is C.

Let your arm do some of the work: a slight pull back from the elbow presses the barre without squeezing the thumb.
This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.

Other ways to play Gsus4

x-x-5-5-3-3: movable shape at the 3rd fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.
x-10-12-12-13-10: barre shape at the 10th fret, medium. This is the open Asus4 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-10-10-7-8-x: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Gsus4 the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Esus4 shape (0-2-2-2-0-0) or capo on the 5th fret and play the open Dsus4 shape (x-x-0-2-3-3). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Moving between Gsus4 and its neighbours

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Gsus4, using the first shape of each chord.

G (resolves down to the third): Gsus4 (3-5-5-5-3-3) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: G and D. G on guitar
C (IV in G major): Gsus4 (3-5-5-5-3-3) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): the index finger goes to the B string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: G and C. C on guitar
D (V in G major): Gsus4 (3-5-5-5-3-3) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): your index finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the B string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. D carries over from one chord to the other. D on guitar

Gsus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. Gsus4 holds the fourth where the third should be; drop it a half step or whole step into G or Gm to resolve. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Practice Gsus4 in two minutes

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: G, D, G, C, D, G. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Finish by moving between 3-5-5-5-3-3 and x-x-5-5-3-3 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with Gsus4

Gsus4 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Gsus4 on ukulele or Gsus4 on piano, or compare them on the Gsus4 chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other suspended fourth chords

Gsus4 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Gsus4 on guitar?

G, C and D. In the 3-5-5-5-3-3 shape the strings play G (low E string), D (A string), G (D string), C (G string), D (B string) and G (high E string), so G and D are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Gsus4 on guitar?

No open-string Gsus4 exists in standard tuning; x-x-5-5-3-3 is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is Gsus4 a barre chord on guitar?

In its standard form, yes. 3-5-5-5-3-3 has your index finger across the 3rd fret. If that's hard, try x-x-5-5-3-3.

Which string does Gsus4 start on?

In the 3-5-5-5-3-3 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 3rd fret, which is G, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes G, C and D and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.