Dsus4 chord on piano
Dsus4 is D, G and A. D sits between the two black keys. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.
root position · D–G–A · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- D · G · A
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
How to play Dsus4 on piano
Start on D, count 5 half steps up to G then 2 half steps up to A. Those 3 keys are Dsus4.
- Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on G and 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D, 3 on G and 1 on A.
- On the keyboard it's white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Csus4, Esus4, Gsus4 and Asus4, so your hand shape carries over.
Dsus4 inversions
- root position: D–G–A. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: G–A–D (G in the bass). Fingers 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: A–D–G (A in the bass). Right hand 1-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let Dsus4 sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
Changing from Dsus4 to the chords around it
Songs rarely hold Dsus4 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- D (resolves down to the third): Dsus4 to D: play D in root position (D–F♯–A) and D and A stay under the same fingers, while G moves down to F♯. D on piano
- G (IV in D major): Dsus4 to G: play G in 2nd inversion (D–G–B) and D and G stay under the same fingers, while A moves up to B. G on piano
- A (V in D major): Dsus4 to A: play A in 1st inversion (C♯–E–A) and A stays under the same finger, while D moves down to C♯ and G down to E. A on piano
Dsus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. Dsus4 holds the fourth where the third should be; drop it a half step or whole step into D or Dm to resolve. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Getting Dsus4 under your fingers
Play Dsus4 broken, one key at a time: D, G, A, G, D. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Then climb the inversions: D–G–A, then G–A–D, then A–D–G.
The keys of Dsus4
Dsus4 is a suspended fourth chord, 1–4–5 from D. Root position, from the bottom: how Dsus4 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| G | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | perfect fourth |
| A | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Dsus4 in context
Dsus4 on guitar and ukulele
The same notes on another instrument: Dsus4 on guitar and Dsus4 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.
Next to try on piano
Other suspended fourth chords
Dsus4 on piano: questions
What notes are in Dsus4 on piano?
D, G and A: D (white key), G (white key) and A (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Dsus4 on piano?
Press D, G and A together, all white keys. Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on G and 5 on A.
What are the inversions of Dsus4?
1st inversion (G–A–D) and 2nd inversion (A–D–G), after root position (D–G–A). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does Dsus4 look like on the keyboard?
white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Csus4, Esus4, Gsus4 and Asus4, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Dsus4. Updated September 2026.