Piano chords · Sus4 chord
Gsus4 piano chord (G suspended fourth)
Gsus4 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.
G – C – D · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Gsus4
Gsus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- G, the root
- C, the fourth
- D, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Gsus4 an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on G, 4 on C, 5 on D.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 2 on C, 1 on D.
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 | G – C – D |
| 1st inversion | C – D – G |
| 2nd inversion | D – G – C |
Where Gsus4 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 G or Gm.
Gsus4 is G with its third (B) replaced by the fourth, C.
Hear it in a progression
Gsus4 – G – Gsus4 – G: Gsus4 resolving to G 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 Gsus4 chord?
Gsus4 (G suspended fourth) is made of G, C and D: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play Gsus4 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on G, 4 on C, 5 on D, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on G, 2 on C, 1 on D.
How is Gsus4 different from the plain chord?
Gsus4 is G with its third (B) replaced by the fourth, C.