CifraLab

Asus4 Guitar Chord

Asus4 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
Asus4Guitar fingering diagram for Asus41234×123STRING6ª×5ªA4ªE3ªA2ªD1ªE
View HD sheet

What sets Asus4 apart

Play Asus4 one string at a time and you hear A, D and E. A is the root, D the fourth and E the fifth.

String by string, low to high, it plays A, E, A, D and E. Of the five strings you play, two give A, the note that names the chord. It runs from A on string 5 up to E on string 1.

The open strings add notes to Asus4 too. String 5 gives A and string 1 gives E. String 6 is not played. Your hand covers two frets, from 2 to 3. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 5 and 12.

Change only string 2 in Asus4 and you have A. Asus4 and D have A and D in common. Moving to D, you keep one finger down.

Asus4 shows up in ten keys. In A major it is the Isus4, in D major the Vsus4 and in C major the VIsus4. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01A A - F#m - Bm - E702C#m C#m - A - F#m - G#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Asus4)

Formula: Suspended Fourth (1 - 4 - 5)
Constituent chord intervals:

A 1D 4E 5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 0 (A)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Asus4:

01

Standard

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
○Open
ADegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 1
EDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 2
ADegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 3Finger 3
DDegree 4
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 5

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Ring finger. Play open: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Barre 5

Barre fret 5
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 5Barre
ADegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 7
EDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 7
ADegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 7
DDegree 4
2nd String (B)
Fret 5Barre
EDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 5Barre
ADegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 5. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 7, 4th String (D) at fret 7, 3rd String (G) at fret 7.

03

Octave

Barre fret 12
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 12Barre
ADegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 14Finger 2
EDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 14Finger 3
ADegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 15Finger 4
DDegree 4
1st String (High E)
Fret 12Barre
EDegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 12. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 14 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 14 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 15 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Asus4)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 3
Fretting fingers3
Open5th and 1st
Muted6th

What to check

The open 5th and 1st strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Asus4

Listen: Asus4 → A · D · Bm

  1. Asus4
  2. A
  3. Asus4
  4. D
  5. Asus4
  6. Bm
Asus4 → A01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 3, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 2
Asus4 → D02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 3
Move
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 1, fret 2
Asus4 → Bm03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 2, fret 3
Move
  • string 5, fret 2
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 4
  • string 1, fret 2

Asus4 in every key

Asus4 sits in the scale of 10 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
3

Asus4 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Asus4)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Asus4 chord?

To play the Asus4 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Asus4 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Asus4 chord is its root note: A. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Asus4 chord and what is its formula?

The Asus4 chord is constructed using the 1 - 4 - 5 formula (Suspended Fourth). Its constituent pitches are A, D, E.

How do you prevent the Asus4 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Asus4 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Asus4 chord diagram

Asus4 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the A family:

Chord A Chord Ab Chord Am Chord A7 Chord Ab7 Chord Amaj7 Chord Abmaj7 Chord Am7