Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| G | Root | 1 |
| C | Perfect 4th | 11 |
| D | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| F | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
Fingering
| Note | Key color | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | white | thumb (1) | little finger (5) |
| C | white | index finger (2) | middle finger (3) |
| D | white | middle finger (3) | index finger (2) |
| F | white | little finger (5) | thumb (1) |
Right hand: thumb (1) on G, index finger (2) on C, middle finger (3) on D, little finger (5) on F.
Left hand: little finger (5) on G, middle finger (3) on C, index finger (2) on D, thumb (1) on F.
G 7sus4 Inversions
- Root positionG – C – D – F
- 1st inversion (G7sus4/C)C – D – F – G
- 2nd inversion (G7sus4/D)D – F – G – C
- 3rd inversion (G7sus4/F)F – G – C – D
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the G 7sus4 is the tonic (I) chord of G Major, whose key signature has 1 sharp (F♯).
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of G Major
These are the triads built on each degree of G Major:
G 7sus4 : Frequently Asked Questions
What is the G 7sus4 chord on piano?
What notes are in the G 7sus4 chord?
How is G7sus4 used in music?
What is the scale degree formula for G7sus4?
G 7sus4 in detail
Exact
Every pitch class is present and nothing outside the chord is added.
| Type | Notes | Semitones | Span | Omissions and additions | Set relation | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close, root position | G3 C4 D4 F4 | 10 | 138 mm | none | identical | |
| Close, first inversion | C4 D4 F4 G4 | 7 | 96 mm | none | identical | |
| Close, second inversion | D4 F4 G4 C5 | 10 | 138 mm | none | identical | |
| Close, third inversion | F4 G4 C5 D5 | 9 | 124 mm | none | identical | |
| Drop 2 | D3 G3 C4 F4 | 15 | 206 mm | none | identical | |
| Drop 3 | C3 G3 D4 F4 | 17 | 234 mm | none | identical | |
| Drop 2 and 4 | G2 D3 C4 F4 | 22 | 303 mm | none | identical |
Reduced
A subset of the pitch classes: the identity is incomplete rather than altered.
| Type | Notes | Semitones | Span | Omissions and additions | Set relation | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell, root ♭7 4 | G2 F3 C4 | 17 | 234 mm | omits D | subset | |
| Guide tones, 4 and ♭7 | C4 F4 | 5 | 69 mm | omits G and D | subset | |
| Rootless close | C4 D4 F4 | 5 | 69 mm | omits G | subset |
Spans are measured centre to centre at a 165 mm octave (standard keyboard geometry).
| Position | Bass note | Notes in order | Figured bass | Semitones | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | G | G3, C4, D4, F4 | 7 | 10 | 138 mm |
| First inversion: G7sus4/C | C | C4, D4, F4, G4 | 6/5 | 7 | 96 mm |
| Second inversion: G7sus4/D | D | D4, F4, G4, C5 | 4/3 | 10 | 138 mm |
| Third inversion: G7sus4/F | F | F4, G4, C5, D5 | 4/2 | 9 | 124 mm |
One position per chord tone in the bass. Spans are for close position: voiced inversions appear under Voicings.
| Progression | Key | Role | Sequence | Voice leading |
|---|
Root motion, common tones and voice displacement are computed from pitch class sets. Roman numerals follow common practice functional harmony.
Change one note
Chords a single note away, and what moving that note does.
| Chord | Change | Formula | Common tones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gsus4 | drops F | 1 4 5 | 3 |
| G7 | C becomes B | 1 3 5 ♭7 | 3 |
| Gm7 | C becomes B♭ | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | 3 |
| G9 | C becomes B, A | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | 3 |
| Gm9 | C becomes B♭, A | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9 | 3 |
| G | C, F becomes B | 1 3 5 | 2 |
| Gm | C, F becomes B♭ | 1 ♭3 5 | 2 |
| Gsus2 | C, F becomes A | 1 2 5 | 2 |
| Gmaj7 | C, F becomes B, F♯ | 1 3 5 7 | 2 |
| GmMaj7 | C, F becomes B♭, F♯ | 1 ♭3 5 7 | 2 |
| Gm7♭5 | C, D becomes B♭, D♭ | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 | 2 |
| Gaug7 | C, D becomes B, D♯ | 1 3 ♯5 ♭7 | 2 |
Frequencies
| Note | MIDI | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| G3 | 55 | 196.00 Hz |
| C4 | 60 | 261.63 Hz |
| D4 | 62 | 293.66 Hz |
| F4 | 65 | 349.23 Hz |
Reference pitch A440, 12-TET, close root position.
Set theory: prime form, Forte number, interval vector
- Absolute pitch class set
- {7, 0, 2, 5}
- Normal order
- [0, 2, 5, 7]
- Prime form
- (0257)
- Forte number
- 4-23
- Interval vector
- <021030>
| Pair | Interval | Semitones | Interval class |
|---|---|---|---|
| G to C | Perfect fourth | 5 | 5 |
| G to D | Perfect fifth | 7 | 5 |
| G to F | Minor seventh | 10 | 2 |
| C to D | Major second | 2 | 2 |
| C to F | Perfect fourth | 5 | 5 |
| D to F | Minor third | 3 | 3 |
Where these facts come from
Every value on this page is derived from the note formula for a 7sus4 applied to the root G, using standard music theory. Nothing here is hand-entered per chord, so the notes, intervals, inversions and frequencies cannot drift out of agreement with each other. Pitches assume 12-TET at A440.