F sus4 (Fsus4) chord on banjo

Sus4 chord (a perfect fourth instead of the third) on F: the notes of the Fsus4 chord are F – B♭ – C.

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 10medium

Position 8medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the Fsus4 chord sounds like

In a sus4 chord a perfect fourth replaces the third. The fourth is 'suspended' and usually resolves down to the third (sus4 → major), a classic move at cadences.

Notes of the Fsus4 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F	root
4	B♭	perfect fourth (5 semitones)
5	C	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 3, little finger (F4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, index finger (C4)
String 3 (G): fret 3, ring finger (B♭3)
String 4 (D): fret 3, ring finger (F3)

Position 10

String 1 (D): fret 10, ring finger (C5)
String 2 (B): fret 11, little finger (B♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 10, middle finger (F4)
String 4 (D): fret 10, index finger (C4)

Position 8

String 1 (D): fret 8, index finger (B♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 11, little finger (B♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 10, ring finger (F4)
String 4 (D): fret 10, ring finger (C4)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Fsus4 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F major: Isus4 (tonic)
F minor: Isus4 (tonic)
B♭ major: Vsus4 (dominant)
B♭ minor: Vsus4 (dominant)
C minor: IVsus4 (subdominant)
D♭ major: IIIsus4
A♭ major: VIsus4
E♭ major: IIsus4
G minor: VIIsus4
D minor: IIIsus4

Similar chords and substitutes

If Fsus4 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

F – resolves the suspension to major
Fm – or to minor

Same notes

B♭sus2 – the same notes with a different root

Richer versions

F7sus4 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F11 – the same chord plus 3 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Fsus4 chord?

F, B♭, C. The root is F; the intervals of the other notes from the root: perfect fourth, perfect fifth.

What is the easiest way to play Fsus4 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the Fsus4 chord written?

The chord symbol is Fsus4, and its full name is F sus4.