Sus4 chord: formula, notes and how it resolves
A sus4 chord replaces the third with a perfect fourth (0-5-7 semitones). Hear it resolve to major, see it on every root and test your ear.
A sus4 chord (suspended fourth) is the root, a perfect fourth (5 semitones) and a perfect fifth (7 semitones). Csus4 is C, F and G. The fourth pushes to fall a half step to the third, so a sus4 chord often resolves to a major chord (Csus4 to C).
Listen to Csus4
C F G
What is the formula of a sus4 chord?
| Chord tone | Interval from the root | Semitones | In C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root | root | 0 | C |
| Fourth | perfect fourth | 5 | F |
| Fifth | perfect fifth | 7 | G |
Formula: 0-5-7 semitones. Written Csus4, Csus.
What does a sus4 chord sound like?
Tense in a gentle way, hovering and expectant, then satisfying when it resolves to the major chord.
How to recognise it by ear
- Listen for the urge to resolve: the middle note wants to fall one semitone (F to E in C).
- Sus4 then major on the same root is one of the most common moves in pop and rock.
- Sus4 is tenser than sus2; both lack a third.
Quick test: is it a sus4 chord?
Four chords on different roots. Each is a sus4 chord or a chord it is often confused with.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
Sus4 chords on all 12 roots
Spelled by letter from the formula, so thirds are always a letter apart (E♭, not D♯, in C minor).
| Chord | Notes | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Csus4 | C F G | |
| D♭sus4 | D♭ G♭ A♭ | |
| Dsus4 | D G A | |
| E♭sus4 | E♭ A♭ B♭ | |
| Esus4 | E A B | |
| Fsus4 | F B♭ C | |
| F♯sus4 | F♯ B C♯ | |
| Gsus4 | G C D | |
| A♭sus4 | A♭ D♭ E♭ | |
| Asus4 | A D E | |
| B♭sus4 | B♭ E♭ F | |
| Bsus4 | B E F♯ |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a sus4 chord?
Root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth: 1, 4, 5. Csus4 is C F G, Dsus4 is D G A, Gsus4 is G C D.
What does Csus mean?
On most chord charts "sus" alone means sus4: Csus = C F G.
How does a sus4 chord resolve?
The fourth usually steps down a semitone to the major third: Csus4 (C F G) to C (C E G).
What is a 7sus4 chord?
A sus4 chord with a minor seventh added: C7sus4 is C F G B flat. It is a softer version of the dominant seventh.