A Sus4
Open PositionThe open Asus4 (x-0-2-2-3-0): A string open (A), index on the D string at fret 2 (E), middle on the G string at fret 2 (A), ring on the B string at fret 3 (D), high e open (E). Strum from the A string.
A Sus4
5th Fret · E-Shape BarreMoveable E-shape sus4 rooted on A at the 5th fret — index barres all six strings at fret 5, ring and pinky add the 4th on the D and G strings at fret 7. Root A is on the low E string.
A Sus4
12th Fret · A-Shape BarreMoveable A-shape sus4 rooted on A at the 12th fret — index barres fret 12 from the A string up, ring and pinky add the 4th and 5th at fret 14, pinky reaches D on the B string at fret 15. Mute the low E.
Hear the suspension
Play A major, then Asus4, then back to A. The D in Asus4 wants to fall to the C# of A major — lifting one finger releases the tension.
From A to Asus4
Asus4 is just A major with the ring finger added on the B string at fret 3 — an easy way to colour a held A chord.
Let the open strings ring
In the open shape the A and high e strings stay open — strum from the A string and leave the low E muted.
Learn the moveable barre
The 5-5-7-7-5-5 E-shape is fully moveable: slide it down for Gsus4 or up for any sus4 higher on the neck.
Resolve to A major
Asus4 is most satisfying when it lands on plain A — practise the release so the D falls cleanly to C#.
About the Asus4 Chord on Guitar
The Asus4 chord is built from three notes: A (the root), D (the perfect 4th), and E (the perfect 5th). It is an A major triad with the 3rd suspended — the C# is replaced by the D a half step above it. With no 3rd, Asus4 sounds tense and unresolved, which is why the A → Asus4 → A move is such a common strumming flourish. Because A uses the open A and high e strings, it has an easy, ringing open voicing as well as moveable barre forms up the neck. This page covers three voicings, from the open shape to a moveable E-shape barre and an A-shape barre. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 Asus4 chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Simple open voicing, moveable E-shape barre, and an A-shape barre
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the A Sus4 chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.