Skip to content

Csus4 chord

Csus4 (C suspended fourth) is C, F and G. It sounds tense in a gentle way: the fourth wants to fall to the third.

Csus4

C suspended fourth · C F G · 1 4 5

CFG

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the Csus4 chord

From C, count 5 half steps up to F and 2 more to G. Its formula is 1 4 5: each number is the note’s place in the C major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is all white keys.

The notes of Csus4 and their intervals from C
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
C1Root0
F4Perfect fourth5
G5Perfect fifth7

Csus4 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

C F G

Written Csus4, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

F G C

Written Csus4/F: F at the bottom.

2nd inversion

G C F

Written Csus4/G: G at the bottom.

Keys with the Csus4 chord

Csus4 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Chords that often come after Csus4

CC E GCsus4 settles to C: the fourth falls to the third, as most sus4 chords do.C7C E G B♭Csus4 to C7: the same resolve with a seventh, the end of many soul and gospel phrases.FF A CAs the V chord, Csus4 pulls home to F.

More piano chords

Other chords on C

CCmC7Cmaj7Cm7Csus2Cadd9C9C6CdimCm7♭5Cdim7Caug

Suspended fourth chords on other notes

C♯sus4Dsus4E♭sus4Esus4Fsus4F♯sus4Gsus4A♭sus4Asus4B♭sus4Bsus4

Or see every chord at once on the piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Csus4 chord?

Csus4 is C, F and G. On the piano that is all white keys.

How do you play Csus4 on the piano?

With your right hand, put your thumb (1) on C, your middle finger (3) on F and your little finger (5) on G. With your left hand it is 5, 3 and 1 on the same notes. From C, count 5 half steps up to F and 2 more to G.

What are the inversions of Csus4?

Root position: C F G. 1st inversion: F G C (Csus4/F). 2nd inversion: G C F (Csus4/G). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is Csus4 in?

In major keys, Csus4 is the Isus4 chord in C major, the Vsus4 chord in F major and the VIsus4 chord in E♭ major. In minor keys, it is the Isus4 chord in C minor, the IVsus4 chord in G minor and the Vsus4 chord in F minor.

Can I make a beat with Csus4?

Yes. “Make a beat in C major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in C major on C G Am F, the key where Csus4 is the Isus4 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in C major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in C major on C G Am F, the key where Csus4 is the Isus4 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in C majorAll piano chords

Keep going