Csus4 Guitar Chord

Csus4 is the C suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: C, F and G. The go-to shape is the open C chord with the E on the D string pushed up one fret to F, played with a small index barre across just the B and high E strings. That two string barre is much easier than a full one, but it is the reason this chord takes a little practice.

Open C with the suspension worked in: ring and pinky hold the bass notes while the index lies across just the B and high E strings at the 1st fret.

How to play Csus4, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the B to high E strings at fret 1
Ring finger: 3rd fret, A string
Pinky finger: 3rd fret, D string
Leave the G string open. Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

Practice moving between open C and this shape; the C notes on the A and B strings are the same in both chords, only the middle of the grip changes.

More ways to play Csus4

There are 4 common Csus4 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Csus4 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 3, played x35563 — Barre at fret 3

Csus4 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 8, played 8 10 10 10 8 8 — Barre at fret 8

Csus4 guitar chord diagram, compact, frets 10 to 13, played x x 10 12 13 13 — Compact, frets 10 to 13

Songs that use the Csus4 chord

Gm F Eb Dm7 Bb Am CCsus4C#
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If notes buzz or vanish

High E sounds weak: The little barre has to press two strings evenly. Roll the index slightly onto its bony edge so the high E gets as much weight as the B string.
Open G string does not ring: The pinky on the D string is the usual culprit. Curl it so its underside clears the G string completely.
Low E rumbles into the chord: It is not part of Csus4. Start your strum on the A string, or let the tip of the ring finger touch the low E to mute it.

What makes it a Csus4

C · F · G 1 4 5

Suspended chords swap the third for a neighbor, and sus4 picks the note above. Csus4 keeps C and G, the root and fifth of C major, and replaces the third, E, with F. Because the third is gone, the chord sits between major and minor, tense but neutral. The F wants to slide down a half step to E, which is why Csus4 nearly always falls back onto C. Look for it in the keys of C, F and G, wherever a C chord is held long enough to decorate.

Csus4 vs Csus2

Csus4 lifts the third of C up to F; Csus2 drops it down to D. The fourth presses against the chord and asks to resolve, the second opens it up and relaxes. On guitar, Csus2 is the fiddlier of the two near the nut, while Csus4 sits right beside open C, so sus4 is the one charts usually mean when they write Csus.

Csus4 chord questions

Is Csus4 a hard chord?

Middling. The standard shape needs a two string barre with the index, which is a new skill after open chords, but it is far easier than a full six string barre.

Can I play Csus4 without any barre?

Yes. The compact shape on the top four strings starting at the 10th fret uses one finger per string, no barre at all.

What is the difference between Csus4 and Csus2?

Csus4 replaces the third of C with F, a half step up. Csus2 replaces it with D, a whole step down. Sus4 sounds tense, sus2 sounds open and calm.

What does Csus4 resolve to?

C, almost always. The suspended F falls one half step to E and the chord settles. It can also resolve to C minor, where the F falls to E♭.

Is Csus the same chord as Csus4?

Yes. Csus written alone is shorthand for Csus4.