Gsus4

Gsus4 is G, C and D, a suspended fourth. The shape this page opens on is written 330013, lowest string first.

Also written Gsus or G suspended 4th. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 7 common shapes for Gsus4 on the guitar, and 50 derived voicings in 2 families.

In which keys. Every note of Gsus4 belongs to C major (the V), C minor (the v), D minor (the iv), Eb major (the iii), E minor (the ♭III), F major (the ii), G major (the I), G minor (the i), A minor (the ♭VII) and Bb major (the vi).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: 330013, 355533, xx5788, x-10-10-7-8-x, x-10-12-12-13-10, 15-x-12-12-13-15, x-x-12-12-13-15.

Triad. Three notes across one string set. Gsus4 has xx001x, x3001x, xx0013, 330xxx, xx553x, x300xx, xxx533, 3300xx.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Gsus4 has 3300xx.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.