Guitar chord reference
C 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. Each region uses a compact playable voicing, with muted strings, suggested fingers and barres shown explicitly.
C shape
Fingers: × · 3 · 3 · ○ · 2 · ×
Finger 3 barre · fret 3 · strings 5–4
A shape
Fingers: × · 1 · 2 · 2 · 3 · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 5 · strings 4–3
G shape
Fingers: 2 · 2 · 1 · 1 · × · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 8 · strings 6–5
Finger 1 barre · fret 5 · strings 4–3
E shape
Fingers: 1 · 2 · 2 · 2 · × · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 10 · strings 5–3
D shape
Fingers: × · × · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3
Finger 3 barre · fret 13 · strings 2–1
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.
Follow the guitar chord practice guide for clean placement, timed changes and connected CAGED movement.
Learn how the five movable forms overlap, where their roots sit and when to use partial voicings in the CAGED system guide.
Open the chord randomiser