C Suspended 4th Guitar Chord — Open G
Guitar chord voicings in Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D)
C Suspended 4th Voicings in Open G
C Suspended 4th filtered by fret:
C Suspended 4th in Open G Tuning — Guide
The C Suspended 4th chord is made up of the following notes: C, F, G.
Intervals: 1P, 4P, 5P.
The C Suspended 4th chord in Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) requires different fingerings than standard tuning.
C sus4 replaces the third with a perfect fourth, producing the notes C, F, G (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 C Suspended 4th
On guitar, C 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.
C Suspended 4th in Progressions
C sus4 is used wherever you want tension without committing to major or minor. It commonly replaces or precedes the C 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
C major, Fadd9, or C7sus4 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.