CifraLab

Csus4 Guitar Chord

Csus4 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Back to Chord Dictionary
Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
Csus4Guitar fingering diagram for Csus41234×3411STRING6ª×5ªC4ªF3ªG2ªC1ªF
View HD sheet

What sets Csus4 apart

The notes of Csus4 are C, F and G. C is the root, F the fourth and G the fifth.

String by string, low to high, it plays C, F, G, C and F. C rings twice across the five strings, and it is the root. It runs from C on string 5 up to F on string 1.

In Csus4, only one string rings open, string 3, which gives G. Avoid string 6. Your hand covers three frets, from 1 to 3. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 3 and 8.

C is very close. You only move strings 4 and 1. Csus4 and F have C and F in common. F shares four positions with this shape.

You will find Csus4 in ten different keys. In C major it is the Isus4, in F major the Vsus4 and in Eb major the VIsus4. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702Em Em - C - Am - B7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Csus4)

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

C 1F 4G 5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

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

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Csus4:

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)
Fret 3Finger 3
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 3Finger 4
FDegree 4
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree 5
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 1
CDegree 1
1st String (High E)
Fret 1Finger 1
FDegree 4

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

02

Barre 3

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

Placement tip: Barre fret 3. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 5 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 5 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 6 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

03

Barre 8

Barre fret 8
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 8Barre
CDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 10
GDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 10
CDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 10
FDegree 4
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Barre
GDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 8Barre
CDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 8. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 10, 4th String (D) at fret 10, 3rd String (G) at fret 10.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Csus4)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 3
Fretting fingers3
Open3rd
Muted6th

What to check

The open 3rd string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Csus4

Listen: Csus4 → F · C · Am

  1. Csus4
  2. F
  3. Csus4
  4. C
  5. Csus4
  6. Am
Csus4 → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:4 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 1
  • string 1, fret 1
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 3, fret 2
Csus4 → C02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Move
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Csus4 → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Move
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2

Csus4 in every key

Csus4 sits in the scale of 10 keys.

Main shape at a glance

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

Csus4 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 (Csus4)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Csus4 chord?

To play the Csus4 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 Csus4 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Csus4 chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Csus4 chord and what is its formula?

The Csus4 chord is constructed using the 1 - 4 - 5 formula (Suspended Fourth). Its constituent pitches are C, F, G.

How do you prevent the Csus4 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Csus4 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 Csus4 chord diagram

Csus4 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

Thanks for studying with CifraLab

If this chord helped you, support us with a coffee on Ko-fi.

Buy a coffee

Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord C7 Chord Cmaj7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2