C sus4 chordCsus4

Built from

• Croot
• F4th
• G5th

The 4th pushes against where the 3rd wants to be. Drop it one fret and the chord resolves to major.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In C major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Csus4I
  2. GV
  3. Amvi
  4. FIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In C major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Csus4I
  2. FIV
  3. GV
  4. Csus4I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In C major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Csus4I
  2. Amvi
  3. FIV
  4. GV

Where it goes next

Thinking in C major, where it is the I chord.

• F

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• G

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• Am

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• Dm

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• F

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C and F.

• Fm

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C and F.

• C♯maj7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C and F.

• Dm7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C and F.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• C major

Keys it lives in

• C majoras I
• F majoras V
• G majoras IV
• E minoras VI
• A minoras III
• D minoras VII