Guitar chord reference
Suspended 4 guitar chord: five CAGED shapes
A suspended 4 chord replaces the 3rd with the 4th. The 4th commonly resolves down to a major 3rd, but the chord can also stand as a colour in its own right.
Chord construction and function
Hear the 4th pressing against the expected 3rd while the root and 5th remain stable. Its placement varies between CAGED forms, making interval labels particularly useful.
- Chord formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- Notes in Csus4
- C · F · G
Csus4 in CAGED neck order
Root notes are highlighted. Read each movable voicing as a set of chord tones, not simply as a copied open shape.
C shape
A shape
G shape
E shape
D shape
Practice drill
Alternate sus4 and major in every shape, resolving 4 to 3 on the same string where possible. Keep a steady pulse while moving through the complete CAGED sequence.
Open the chord randomiser