Sus4 chords have a sound you’ve probably heard hundreds of times — that moment of tension right before a chord resolves. They show up in rock, folk, country, and pop all the time. In the video above, we’ll look at exactly how sus4 chords are built so you can create one from any major chord shape you already know. If you’re following along with our chord theory lessons, this one fits right in.
What Does “Sus4” Actually Mean?
The name “sus4” is short for “suspended fourth.” The word “suspended” tells you something has been replaced — specifically, the 3rd has been swapped out for the 4th. So instead of the normal major chord formula of 1-3-5, a sus4 chord uses 1-4-5.
That missing 3rd is what gives sus4 chords their unique sound. Without the 3rd, the chord isn’t really major or minor — it’s hanging in between, wanting to resolve back to one or the other.
Building a Dsus4
Let’s start with D major. The notes in D major are D, F#, and A (that’s 1, 3, 5 from the D major scale). To make it a Dsus4, we raise the 3rd (F#) up one fret to G. Now we have D, G, A — that’s 1, 4, 5.
On the guitar, this is a small move. From your open D major shape, you just add your pinky on the 3rd fret of the high E string. That note changes from F# to G, and you’ve got a Dsus4.
If you understand how root notes work, you can always find your starting point and build from there.
Applying It to G
The same idea works for G. The notes in G major are G, B, D (1, 3, 5). To make Gsus4, raise the 3rd (B) up one fret to C. Now you have G, C, D — that’s 1, 4, 5.
On the fretboard, find where the B note sits in your G chord shape and move it up one fret. That one change gives you Gsus4. The process is always the same: find the 3rd, raise it one fret.
Why Sus4 Chords Sound So Good
Sus4 chords create tension. That raised 4th wants to fall back down to the 3rd and resolve to the major chord. This tension-and-release effect is what makes sus4 chords so satisfying to play. Try strumming Dsus4 and then letting it resolve to D major — you’ll hear exactly what I mean.
Songwriters use this all the time to add movement and interest, even when staying on the same chord. If you’re into songwriting, sus4 chords are a great tool to have in your pocket.
A Quick Note on Numbers
One thing that trips people up: the “4” in sus4 refers to the 4th note of the major scale — the chord construction formula. Don’t confuse this with the “IV chord” in a key progression. Chord construction (1-3-5) and key progressions (I-IV-V) are two different systems that both use numbers. Once that clicks, everything gets clearer.
If you want to go deeper with building your own chord shapes, check out creating your own guitar chords — it uses these same ideas. And for more chord lessons and theory, head to the guitar chords hub page.