G♯sus4: G♯/A♭ Suspended 4th Piano Chord

Root position: either hand, fingers low note to high
Hand	Notes	Fingers
Right	G♯, C♯, D♯	1-3-5
Left	G♯, C♯, D♯	5-3-1

Scale degree, note, and interval measured from the root.
Degree	Note	Interval from root	Semitones
1	G♯	Perfect unison	0
4	C♯	Perfect fourth	5
5	D♯	Perfect fifth	7

Construction

G♯ Suspended 4th = Root + Perfect 4th + Perfect 5th = G♯, C♯, D♯

Note	Interval	Degree
G♯	Root	1
C♯	Perfect 4th	4
D♯	Perfect 5th	5

Fingering

Note	Key color	Right hand	Left hand
G♯	black	thumb (1)	little finger (5)
C♯	black	middle finger (3)	middle finger (3)
D♯	black	little finger (5)	thumb (1)

Right hand: thumb (1) on G♯, middle finger (3) on C♯, little finger (5) on D♯.

Left hand: little finger (5) on G♯, middle finger (3) on C♯, thumb (1) on D♯.

G♯ Suspended 4th Inversions

Root position
G♯ – C♯ – D♯
1st inversion (G♯sus4/C♯)
C♯ – D♯ – G♯
2nd inversion (G♯sus4/D♯)
D♯ – G♯ – C♯

Key Signature

A Suspended 4th chord is built from symmetrical or ambiguous intervals, so it doesn't belong to a single key and has no key signature of its own.

Chords in the Key of G♯ Major

These are the triads built on each degree of G♯ Major:

I — G♯ Major (major)

Degree	Numeral	Chord	Quality
1	I	G♯ Major	Major
2	ii	A♯ Minor	Minor
3	iii	B♯ Minor	Minor
4	IV	C♯ Major	Major
5	V	D♯ Major	Major
6	vi	E♯ Minor	Minor
7	vii°	F♯♯ Diminished	Diminished

Scales That Include the G♯ Suspended 4th

E Major (iii)
B Major (vi)
F# Major (ii)
Db Major (V)
Ab Major (I)
C# Minor (v)
G# Minor (i)
F Minor (III)

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes G♯ – C♯ – D♯ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

C♯ Suspended 2nd→

G♯ Suspended 4th : Frequently Asked Questions

What is the G♯ Suspended 4th chord on piano?

The G♯ Suspended 4th chord contains the notes G♯ – C♯ – D♯. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.

What is the G# piano chord?

The G# piano chord (written G♯ Suspended 4th) uses the same keys: G♯ – C♯ – D♯. The # and ♯ symbols name the same black key.

What notes are in the G# Suspended 4th chord?

The G# Suspended 4th chord (G#sus4) contains: G# (root), C# (perfect fourth), and D# (perfect fifth). The perfect fourth replaces the third, creating a strong upward pull toward resolution, the 4th degree (C#) strongly wants to resolve down to the major third.

How does G# Suspended 4th differ from G#sus2?

Both replace the third, but G#sus2 uses the 2nd degree (giving an airy, neutral feel) while G# Suspended 4th uses the 4th degree (C#), which creates stronger tension. The sus4 chord has a more urgent, directional pull toward resolution than sus2.

What does "sus4" resolve to?

The 4th degree (C#) in a sus4 chord typically resolves down by one semitone to the major 3rd of the chord: this is the classical "suspension resolution." The movement C# → (major 3rd) is one of the most satisfying motions in Western harmony and drives the resolution from G#sus4 → G# Major.

How is G# Suspended 4th used in music?

Sus4 chords appear in nearly every genre. They create anticipation before resolution to a major chord, work as dramatic openings (Pinball Wizard, Hard Day's Night), and add harmonic colour in pop and classical music. The G# Suspended 4th is especially common as a pre-dominant chord that builds tension before the final chord of a phrase.

What songs use suspended 4th chords?

A Hard Day's Night (Beatles) opens with a sus4 chord. Pinball Wizard (The Who) uses sus4 throughout. Feelin' Alright (Traffic), Behind Blue Eyes (The Who), and many hymns use sus4 chords for their characteristic build-and-release quality.

Can I use G# Suspended 4th before G# Major?

Yes: G#sus4 → G# Major is one of the most satisfying resolutions in music. The fourth degree (C#) resolves down to the major third, while the root and fifth stay constant. This V–I style resolution works in any tempo and style, from gospel to pop to classical.

G♯ Suspended 4th in detail

Exact

Every pitch class is present and nothing outside the chord is added.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation
Close, root position	G♯3 C♯4 D♯4	7	96 mm	none	identical
Close, first inversion	C♯4 D♯4 G♯4	7	96 mm	none	identical
Close, second inversion	D♯4 G♯4 C♯5	10	138 mm	none	identical
Open, fifth on top	G♯2 D♯3 C♯4	17	234 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
Root and third only	G♯3 C♯4	5	69 mm	omits D♯	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♯	G♯3, C♯4, D♯4	5/3	7	96 mm
First inversion: G♯sus4/C♯	C♯	C♯4, D♯4, G♯4	6/3	7	96 mm
Second inversion: G♯sus4/D♯	D♯	D♯4, G♯4, C♯5	6/4	10	138 mm

One position per chord tone in the bass. Spans are for close position: voiced inversions appear under Voicings.

Change one note

Chords a single note away, and what moving that note does.

Chord	Change	Formula	Common tones
G♯7sus4	adds F♯	1 4 5 ♭7	3
G♯	C♯ becomes B♯	1 3 5	2
G♯m	C♯ becomes B	1 ♭3 5	2
G♯sus2	C♯ becomes A♯	1 2 5	2
G♯maj7	C♯ becomes B♯, F×	1 3 5 7	2
G♯7	C♯ becomes B♯, F♯	1 3 5 ♭7	2
G♯m7	C♯ becomes B, F♯	1 ♭3 5 ♭7	2
G♯mMaj7	C♯ becomes B, F×	1 ♭3 5 7	2
G♯6	C♯ becomes B♯, E♯	1 3 5 6	2
G♯m6	C♯ becomes B, E♯	1 ♭3 5 6	2
G♯add9	C♯ becomes B♯, A♯	1 3 5 9	2
G♯dim	C♯, D♯ becomes B, D	1 ♭3 ♭5	1

Frequencies

Note	MIDI	Frequency
G♯3	56	207.65 Hz
C♯4	61	277.18 Hz
D♯4	63	311.13 Hz

Reference pitch A440, 12-TET, close root position.

Set theory: prime form, Forte number, interval vector

Absolute pitch class set: {8, 1, 3}
Normal order: [1, 3, 8]
Prime form: (027)
Forte number: 3-9
Interval vector: <010020>

Pair	Interval	Semitones	Interval class
G♯ to C♯	Perfect fourth	5	5
G♯ to D♯	Perfect fifth	7	5
C♯ to D♯	Major second	2	2

Where these facts come from

Every value on this page is derived from the note formula for a suspended 4th 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.

G♯ Suspended 4th

Fingerings

G♯ Suspended 4th: notes and degrees