C# or D♭ Sus4
4th Fret · A-Shape BarreMoveable A-shape sus4 rooted on C# at fret 4 — index barres fret 4 from the A string up, ring and pinky add F# and G# at fret 6, pinky reaches F# on the B string at fret 7. Mute the low E. Fully moveable to any root.
C# or D♭ Sus4
9th Fret · E-Shape BarreA fully moveable E-shape sus4 at the 9th fret — index barres all six strings at fret 9, ring and pinky add the 4th on the D and G strings at fret 11. Root C# is on the low E string.
C# or D♭ Sus4
Top-Four-String VoicingA compact voicing on the top four strings — G# on the D string at fret 6, root C# on the G string at fret 6, F# on the B string at fret 7, and G# on the high e at fret 4. Strum only the top four strings.
Spell it as D♭sus4 in flat keys
In written music this chord often appears as D♭sus4. The shapes and sound are identical — only the name changes with the key.
No open strings
C#sus4 has no open-string voicing in standard tuning, so every shape is fretted. The A-shape barre at fret 4 is the most dependable starting point.
Use it as a moveable shape
The x-4-6-6-7-4 barre is fully moveable — slide it down a fret for Csus4 or up a fret for Dsus4.
Resolve to the major chord
C#sus4 wants to fall back to C# major. Practising C# → C#sus4 → C# trains your ear to hear the suspension release.
Keep the barre firm
A clean barre needs steady index pressure across the strings. Roll the finger slightly toward its bony side for a stronger barre.
About the C#sus4 Chord on Guitar
The C#sus4 chord is built from three notes: C# (the root), F# (the perfect 4th), and G# (the perfect 5th). It is a C# major triad with the 3rd suspended — the E# is replaced by the F# a half step above it — so it sounds tense and unresolved rather than clearly major. Because none of its notes line up with open guitar strings, every C#sus4 voicing is fretted, which makes it good practice for moveable shapes. C#sus4 is enharmonically identical to D♭sus4 — same pitch, same shapes, different spelling depending on the key. This page covers three voicings: a moveable A-shape barre, an E-shape barre, and a top-four-string form. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 C#sus4 or D♭sus4 chord shapes from intermediate to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Moveable A-shape barre, E-shape barre, and a top-four-string voicing
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the C# or D♭ Sus4 chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.