C♯ sus4 (C♯sus4) chord on mandolin

Looking for the C♯sus4 chord on mandolin? It is a sus4 chord (a perfect fourth instead of the third), made of three notes: C♯ – F♯ – G♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ sus4 (D♭sus4).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 6medium

Position 9medium

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 C♯sus4 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 C♯sus4 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 4, little finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, little finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, little finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 1, index finger (G♯3)

Position 4

String 1 (E): fret 4, ring finger (G♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, middle finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, index finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, little finger (C♯4)

Position 6, barre at fret 6

String 1 (E): fret 9, little finger (C♯6)
String 2 (A): fret 9, little finger (F♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, index finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 6; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The C♯sus4 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

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

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯sus4 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

C♯ – resolves the suspension to major
C♯m – or to minor

Same notes

F♯sus2 – the same notes with a different root

Richer versions

C♯7sus4 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C♯11 – the same chord plus 3 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯sus4 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play C♯sus4 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. 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 C♯sus4 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯sus4 (also written C#sus4), and its full name is C♯ sus4.