Gsus4 chord on piano
Gsus4 is G, C and D. G sits between the first two black keys of the three. Hit Play and watch each key light as it sounds.
root position · G–C–D · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- G · C · D
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
How to play Gsus4 on piano
From G, go 5 half steps up to C then 2 half steps up to D. That's the whole chord: 3 keys.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on C and 5 on D.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 3 on C and 1 on D.
- On the keyboard it's white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Csus4, Dsus4, Esus4 and Asus4, so your hand shape carries over.
Gsus4 inversions
- root position: G–C–D. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: C–D–G (C in the bass). Right hand 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: D–G–C, with D at the bottom. Right hand 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
Gsus4 chord changes
The chords Gsus4 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.
- G (resolves down to the third): 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 on piano
- C (IV in G major): 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 on piano
- D (V in G major): 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 on piano
Gsus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. Gsus4 holds the fourth where the third should be; drop it a half step or whole step into G or Gm to resolve. Play it solid and then broken to hear the difference.
A short Gsus4 drill
Play Gsus4 broken, one key at a time: G, C, D, C, G. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Then climb the inversions: G–C–D, then C–D–G, then D–G–C.
The keys of Gsus4
Gsus4 is a suspended fourth chord, 1–4–5 from G. Root position, from the bottom: how Gsus4 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| C | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | perfect fourth |
| D | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Keys and progressions with Gsus4
Gsus4 on guitar and ukulele
Gsus4 on guitar and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Next to try on piano
Other suspended fourth chords
Gsus4 on piano: questions
What notes are in Gsus4 on piano?
G, C and D: G (white key), C (white key) and D (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Gsus4 on piano?
Press G, C and D together, all white keys. Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on C and 5 on D.
What are the inversions of Gsus4?
1st inversion (C–D–G) and 2nd inversion (D–G–C), after root position (G–C–D). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does Gsus4 look like on the keyboard?
white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Csus4, Dsus4, Esus4 and Asus4, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Gsus4. Updated September 2026.