C♯ Suspended 4th Guitar Chord (C♯sus4)
C♯ suspended 4th is a three-note chord built from C♯ (the root), F♯ (the perfect fourth), and G♯ (the perfect fifth). It sounds open and unresolved on purpose: the fourth wants to fall to the third, and that pull is the whole point. Strum C♯sus4 into C♯ major and you will hear one of rock’s favorite moves. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
C♯sus4 chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Place your index finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 4, and your pinky finger on the D (4th) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) and high E (1st) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | C♯ |
| 4 | perfect fourth | F♯ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | G♯ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see C♯sus4 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More C♯ chords
Nearby suspended 4th chords
C♯sus4 FAQ
What notes are in C♯sus4?
C♯sus4 contains C♯, F♯, and G♯ — the root (C♯), the perfect fourth, and the perfect fifth.
Is C♯sus4 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest C♯sus4 shape (x-4-4-1-2-x) needs no barre — it uses 4 fingers. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 4, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.
What is the easiest way to play C♯sus4 on guitar?
Start with the 1fr shape x-4-4-1-2-x. Place your index finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the A (5th) string at fret 4, and your pinky finger on the D (4th) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) and high E (1st) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.