Gsus4 chord
Gsus4 is G, C and D: 1–4–5 built on G. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
3-5-5-5-3-3 · barre · medium
- Notes
- G · C · D
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- First shape
- 3-5-5-5-3-3
Gsus4 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · G–C–D · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- G · C · D
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
Gsus4 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
0-2-3-3 · open · easy
- Notes
- G · C · D
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- First shape
- 0-2-3-3
Gsus4 and the chords around it
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- Gsus4 → G (resolves down to the third)
Guitar: Gsus4 (3-5-5-5-3-3) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: G and D.
Piano: Gsus4 to G: play G in root position (G–B–D) and G and D stay under the same fingers, while C moves down to B. G - Gsus4 → C (IV in G major)
Guitar: Gsus4 (3-5-5-5-3-3) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): the index finger goes to the B string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: G and C.
Piano: Gsus4 to C: play C in 2nd inversion (G–C–E) and G and C stay under the same fingers, while D moves up to E. C - Gsus4 → D (V in G major)
Guitar: Gsus4 (3-5-5-5-3-3) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): your index finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the B string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. D carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: Gsus4 to D: play D in 1st inversion (F♯–A–D) and D stays under the same finger, while G moves down to F♯ and C down to A. D
Guitar with a capo: capo 3, Esus4 shape; capo 5, Dsus4 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 5, Dsus4 shape; capo 7, Csus4 shape.
How Gsus4 is built
Gsus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. The suspended note wants to fall back, so Gsus4 usually resolves to G major: play Gsus4 then G and you'll hear it settle.
From G, go 5 half steps up to C then 2 half steps up to D.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | root | 0 | |
| C | perfect fourth | 5 | |
| D | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with Gsus4
No major or natural minor key contains Gsus4 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
Chords close to Gsus4
- Gsus4 and G differ by one note: C in Gsus4, B in G. They share G and D. G
- Gsus4 and Gsus2 differ by one note: C in Gsus4, A in Gsus2. They share G and D. Gsus2
Chords that share most of their notes with Gsus4: Csus2, Cadd9, C9, C, Cm, Csus4.
Every G chord
Gsus4 chord: questions
What notes are in the Gsus4 chord?
G, C and D. Gsus4 is built 1–4–5 from G: C is the perfect fourth and D is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Gsus4 on guitar?
The usual shape is 3-5-5-5-3-3 (barre). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Gsus4 on piano?
Play G, C and D with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. G sits between the first two black keys of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Gsus4 on ukulele?
0-2-3-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Gsus4 in?
No major or natural minor key contains Gsus4 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
What's the difference between Gsus4 and G?
Gsus4 and G differ by one note: C in Gsus4, B in G. They share G and D.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.