G sus4 (Gsus4) chord on banjo

Looking for the Gsus4 chord on banjo? It is a sus4 chord (a perfect fourth instead of the third), made of three notes: G – C – D.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 3easy

Position 5medium

Position 7medium

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

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What the Gsus4 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 Gsus4 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	G	root
4	C	perfect fourth (5 semitones)
5	D	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): open (D4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, index finger (C4)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): open (D3)

Position 3

String 1 (D): open (D4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (D4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, little finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G3)

Position 5, barre at fret 5

String 1 (D): open (D4)
String 2 (B): fret 8, little finger (G4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, index finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 5, index finger (G3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 5; your other fingers press the higher frets.

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 Gsus4 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

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

Similar chords and substitutes

If Gsus4 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

G – resolves the suspension to major
Gm – or to minor

Same notes

Csus2 – the same notes with a different root

Richer versions

G7sus4 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
G11 – the same chord plus 3 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Gsus4 chord?

G, C, D. The root is G; the intervals of the other notes from the root: perfect fourth, perfect fifth.

What is the easiest way to play Gsus4 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 4 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 Gsus4 chord written?

The chord symbol is Gsus4, and its full name is G sus4.