G Suspended 4th Guitar Chord — Drop C
Guitar chord voicings in Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D)
G Suspended 4th Voicings in Drop C
G Suspended 4th filtered by fret:
G Suspended 4th in Drop C Tuning — Guide
The G Suspended 4th chord is made up of the following notes: G, C, D.
Intervals: 1P, 4P, 5P.
The G Suspended 4th chord in Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) requires different fingerings than standard tuning.
G sus4 replaces the third with a perfect fourth, producing the notes G, C, D (intervals 1P, 4P, 5P). Without the third, the chord is neither major nor minor — just open tension waiting to resolve. Suspended fourth chords create a yearning, unfinished quality that has been exploited brilliantly in folk, rock, and ambient music. They often resolve down to the major chord, providing a satisfying release.
How to Play G Suspended 4th
On guitar, G sus4 typically requires a barre or partial barre voicing. Experiment with different positions to find the voicing that best suits your playing context — higher positions sound brighter and tighter, while lower positions offer more bass and resonance. CAGED system shapes help navigate these options efficiently.
G Suspended 4th in Progressions
G sus4 is used wherever you want tension without committing to major or minor. It commonly replaces or precedes the G major chord, creating a sus4-to-major resolution. In modern music, sus chords often stand on their own as ambient, open-sounding harmonies.
Common Substitutions
G major, Cadd9, or G7sus4 offer different resolutions of the suspended tension.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord is intermediate — a barre or partial barre is likely needed, but the shape is manageable with practice.