Piano chords · Sus4 chord
Dsus4 piano chord (D suspended fourth)
Dsus4 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.
D – G – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Dsus4
Dsus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- D, the root
- G, the fourth
- A, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Dsus4 an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on D, 4 on G, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D, 2 on G, 1 on A.
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 | D – G – A |
| 1st inversion | G – A – D |
| 2nd inversion | A – D – G |
Where Dsus4 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 D or Dm.
Dsus4 is D with its third (F♯) replaced by the fourth, G.
Hear it in a progression
Dsus4 – D – Dsus4 – D: Dsus4 resolving to D 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 Dsus4 chord?
Dsus4 (D suspended fourth) is made of D, G and A: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play Dsus4 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on D, 4 on G, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on D, 2 on G, 1 on A.
How is Dsus4 different from the plain chord?
Dsus4 is D with its third (F♯) replaced by the fourth, G.