Dsus4 Guitar Chord

Dsus4 is the D suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: D, G and A. If you can play D, you can play this: keep the shape and put your pinky on the high E string at the 3rd fret. Thousands of strummers play Dsus4 every day without knowing its name, because rocking between D and Dsus4 is one of the most common moves in acoustic guitar.

134××DADG

The open D shape with the pinky raising the top note from F♯ to G. Add the pinky to a held D chord and you are already playing it.

How to play Dsus4, step by step

  1. Index finger: 2nd fret, G string
  2. Ring finger: 3rd fret, B string
  3. Pinky finger: 3rd fret, high E string
  4. Leave the D string open. Strum from the D string down, skipping the two lowest strings.

Learn it side by side with plain D. In real songs Dsus4 almost never stands alone: you strum D, add the pinky for a beat, then take it away.

More ways to play Dsus4

There are 3 common Dsus4 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.

Barre at fret 5
Dsus4 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 5, played x57785

Rounder and heavier than the open shape, with the root down on the A string.

Barre at fret 10
Dsus4 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 10, played 10 12 12 12 10 10

The fullest Dsus4 here, all six strings, though that high up it turns tight and punchy.

Songs that use the Dsus4 chord

If it sounds dull or buzzy

The two low strings rumble
Low E and A are not in the chord. Aim the strum at the open D string, and rest a spare fingertip or the edge of your fretting hand on the A string if it keeps ringing.
High E buzzes
The pinky usually sits too far behind the 3rd fret. Nudge it right up against the fret and press with the very tip.
B string gets choked
Ring finger and pinky share the 3rd fret on neighboring strings. Keep both curled so each one touches only its own string.

What makes it a Dsus4

D · G · A 1 4 5

Sus4 means the third is suspended: replaced by the fourth. Dsus4 keeps the root and fifth of D (D and A) but plays G where the third, F♯, would be. With no third the chord is neither major nor minor, just tense. The G note hangs one half step above F♯ and wants to fall back onto it, which is why Dsus4 nearly always leads straight back to D. Expect it in the keys of D, G and A, wherever a D chord sits long enough to need decorating.

Dsus4 vs Dsus2

The two suspensions replace the third of D in opposite directions. Dsus4 pushes it up to G and creates tension that leans back toward D. Dsus2 drops it to E and sounds hollow and calm instead. On guitar both are one finger away from the D shape, which is why so many songs cycle D, Dsus4, D, Dsus2. Choose sus4 when you want pull, sus2 when you want air.

Dsus4 chord questions

Is Dsus4 a beginner chord?

Yes. It is the D shape with a pinky added on the high E string at the 3rd fret. If D is comfortable, Dsus4 takes minutes.

What songs use Dsus4?

Wonderwall by Oasis leans on Dsus4 through the whole intro, Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams rocks D to Dsus4 in the verse, and Behind Blue Eyes by The Who uses it to decorate the D chord.

What is the difference between Dsus2 and Dsus4?

Dsus4 replaces the third of D with G, one step up; Dsus2 replaces it with E, one step down. Sus4 sounds tense, sus2 sounds open.

Do you strum all the strings in Dsus4?

No. Play the top four strings. The low E and A strings are not part of the open shape.

Why does Dsus4 want to go back to D?

The G note sits one half step above F♯, the third of D. Your ear hears it as a leaning note, and when it falls back the tension releases.

Chords to learn next

Other D chords