G Sus4
Open PositionA ringing open Gsus4 (3-3-0-0-1-3): middle on the low E at fret 3 (G), ring on the A string at fret 3 (C), D and G strings open (D and G), index on the B string at fret 1 (C), pinky on the high e at fret 3 (G). Strum all six strings.
G Sus4
3rd Fret · E-Shape BarreMoveable E-shape sus4 rooted on G at the 3rd fret — index barres all six strings at fret 3, ring and pinky add the 4th on the D and G strings at fret 5. Root G is on the low E string.
G Sus4
10th Fret · A-Shape BarreMoveable A-shape sus4 rooted on G at the 10th fret — index barres fret 10 from the A string up, ring and pinky add the 4th and 5th at fret 12, pinky reaches C on the B string at fret 13. Mute the low E.
Hear the suspension
Play G major, then Gsus4, then back to G. The C in Gsus4 wants to fall to the B of G major — that pull is the point of a suspended chord.
From G to Gsus4
Starting from an open G chord, adding your index on the B string at fret 1 turns it into Gsus4 — a quick way to colour a held G.
Let the open strings ring
In the open shape the D and G strings stay open — arch your fingers so they sound cleanly and keep the chord bright.
Learn the moveable barre
The 3-3-5-5-3-3 E-shape is fully moveable: slide it down two frets for Fsus4 or up for any sus4.
Resolve to G major
Gsus4 is most satisfying when it lands on plain G — practise the release so the C falls cleanly to B.
About the Gsus4 Chord on Guitar
The Gsus4 chord is built from three notes: G (the root), C (the perfect 4th), and D (the perfect 5th). It is a G major triad with the 3rd suspended — the B is replaced by the C a half step above it. With no 3rd, Gsus4 sounds tense and unresolved, pulling strongly back to plain G major. Because G uses the open D and G strings, it has a bright, ringing open voicing as well as fully 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 Gsus4 chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Ringing 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 G Sus4 chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.