C#sus4 Chord
C#sus4 holds F sharp, the fourth, where a major chord would use its third. Letting that fourth move to the third is the small release to listen for.
- Notes: C sharp-F sharp-G sharp
- Symbol: C#sus4
- Vsus4 in F# major
- Fourth instead of third
C#sus4
How to play a C#sus4 chord
Notes: C# - F# - G#C#sus4
Root position
C# - F# - G#1st inversion
F# - G# - C#2nd inversion
G# - C# - F#
Where does C#sus4 belong?
The fourth takes the third's place, making C#sus4 useful as a brief delay before the major chord.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- Delayed dominantVsus4
The fourth holds back the third for a moment before the V resolves to F#.
F#C#sus4Vsus4C#F# - Suspension and releaseIsus4
Lift the third to the fourth and let it fall back: a classic rhythm guitar move.
C#C#sus4Isus4C#
Progressions to try
- F#C#sus4C#F#
Hold C#sus4 before the ordinary major chord on the same root; the suspended note then resolves into the third.
- C#C#sus4C#
The home chord briefly becomes C#sus4 and releases without changing the bass.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with x44674, a barre at the 4th fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The 9-9-11-11-9-9 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 1124, played at the 1st fret. The 6644 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play C sharp-F sharp-G sharp. Move C sharp up an octave to reach the first inversion, F sharp-G sharp-C sharp; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
C sharp is the root, F sharp the fourth and G sharp the fifth. There is no third in this chord.
- Root position: C sharp-F sharp-G sharp, with C sharp lowest.
- First inversion: F sharp-G sharp-C sharp, written C#sus4/F# if F sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: G sharp-C sharp-F sharp, written C#sus4/G# if G sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does C#sus4 differ from C#?
Keep C sharp and G sharp while F sharp moves down to E sharp. That resolves C#sus4 into C#; the root and fifth never moved. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See C# for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
C#sus4
C# - F# - G#C#
C# - E# - G#