Piano chords · Sus4 chord
Csus4 piano chord (C suspended fourth)
Csus4 is a suspended fourth chord with 3 notes. It sounds open and expectant, waiting to resolve. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
C – F – G · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Csus4
Csus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- C, the root
- F, the fourth
- G, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Csus4 an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on C, 4 on F, 5 on G.
- Left hand: 5 on C, 2 on F, 1 on G.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | C – F – G |
| 1st inversion | F – G – C |
| 2nd inversion | G – C – F |
Where Csus4 belongs
A sus chord is neither major nor minor: the fourth takes the place of the third. It usually resolves, with the fourth moving to the third, to C or Cm.
Csus4 is C with its third (E) replaced by the fourth, F.
Hear it in a progression
Csus4 – C – Csus4 – C: Csus4 resolving to C and back: the classic suspension.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Csus4 chord?
Csus4 (C suspended fourth) is made of C, F and G: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play Csus4 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on C, 4 on F, 5 on G, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on C, 2 on F, 1 on G.
How is Csus4 different from the plain chord?
Csus4 is C with its third (E) replaced by the fourth, F.