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Piano chord

Csus4 Piano Chord

Csus4 is a suspended 4th chord rooted on C. The third is replaced by the fourth. It leans hard on the note it is about to become — suspend, then resolve.

The notes

3 notes. Every inversion below is these same notes in a different order.

C1
F4
G5

How to play it

Root position first, then each inversion. Numbers next to each note are right-hand fingers — 1 is the thumb. Tap a key to hear it, or play the whole chord.

Root position
C1F3G5

The root is on the bottom — planted and stable.

1st inversion
F1G2C5

4 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

2nd inversion
G1C3F5

5 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

Which inversion should you use?

Whichever one your hand is already near. Inversions exist so consecutive chords can share keys — instead of jumping the whole hand to a new root position, you move a finger or two and the chords melt into each other. That is most of what separates piano playing that sounds smooth from piano playing that sounds like a series of separate grabs.

Suspended 4th chords in other keys

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