C♯sus4 chord on piano
C♯sus4 is C♯, F♯ and G♯. C♯ is the black key between C and D. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.
root position · C♯–F♯–G♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · F♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
How to play C♯sus4 on piano
From C♯, go 5 half steps up to F♯ then 2 half steps up to G♯. Those 3 keys are C♯sus4.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on F♯ and 5 on G♯.
- Left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on F♯ and 1 on G♯.
- On the keyboard it's black, black and black keys, the same pattern as E♭sus4 and A♭sus4, so your hand shape carries over.
C♯sus4 inversions
- root position: C♯–F♯–G♯. Right hand 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: F♯–G♯–C♯, F♯ lowest. RH 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: G♯–C♯–F♯, G♯ lowest. Fingers 1-3-5.
Use the inversions to stay put: the next chord is often one inversion away from where your hand already is, as the changes below show.
Changing from C♯sus4 to the chords around it
The chords C♯sus4 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.
- C♯ (resolves down to the third): C♯sus4 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♯ on piano
- F♯ (IV in D♭ major): C♯sus4 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♯ on piano
- A♭ (V in D♭ major): C♯sus4 to A♭: play A♭ in 1st inversion (C–E♭–A♭) and A♭ stays under the same finger, while C♯ moves down to C and F♯ down to E♭. A♭ on piano
C♯sus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. C♯sus4 holds the fourth where the third should be; drop it a half step or whole step into C♯ or C♯m to resolve. Play it solid and then broken to hear the difference.
Getting C♯sus4 under your fingers
Play C♯sus4 broken, one key at a time: C♯, F♯, G♯, F♯, C♯. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Then climb the inversions: C♯–F♯–G♯, then F♯–G♯–C♯, then G♯–C♯–F♯.
The keys of C♯sus4
C♯sus4 is a suspended fourth chord, 1–4–5 from C♯. Root position, from the bottom: how C♯sus4 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| F♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | perfect fourth |
| G♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
D♭sus4 is another spelling of C♯sus4. Same keys, same sound.
Where C♯sus4 shows up
C♯sus4 on guitar and ukulele
C♯sus4 on guitar and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Close to C♯sus4
Other suspended fourth chords
C♯sus4 on piano: questions
What notes are in C♯sus4 on piano?
C♯, F♯ and G♯: C♯ (black key), F♯ (black key) and G♯ (black key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play C♯sus4 on piano?
Press C♯, F♯ and G♯ together, all black keys. Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on F♯ and 5 on G♯.
What are the inversions of C♯sus4?
1st inversion (F♯–G♯–C♯) and 2nd inversion (G♯–C♯–F♯), after root position (C♯–F♯–G♯). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does C♯sus4 look like on the keyboard?
black, black and black keys, the same pattern as E♭sus4 and A♭sus4, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes C♯, F♯ and G♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.