F-sharp suspended fourth chord (F#sus4)
The F♯ suspended fourth chord (F♯sus4) is a suspended chord: F♯, B and C♯ (root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth). It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor.
It is the Isus4 in F♯ major and the Vsus4 in B major, and it usually resolves to the major or minor chord on the same root.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play F♯ suspended fourth on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 2-4-4-4-2-2, barre at fret 2, with F♯ in the bass (fingers 1-2-3-4-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-9-11-11-12-9, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 9, with F♯ in the bass.
Notes of the F♯ suspended fourth chord on the fretboard
F♯ suspended fourth has 3 notes: F♯, B and C♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · C♯ (9)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · C♯ (4) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): F♯ (4) · B (9) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): B (4) · C♯ (6) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · C♯ (2) · F♯ (7) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · C♯ (9)
Formula and intervals of F♯ suspended fourth
Its formula is 1-4-5; in semitones from the root, 0-5-7.
- F♯: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- B: Perfect fourth (P4), 5 semitones above F♯
- C♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above F♯
F♯ suspended fourth on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 4-1-2-2; it sounds B, C♯, F♯ and B.
F♯ suspended fourth on piano
- Keys: F♯4, B4 and C♯5.
Inversions of F♯ suspended fourth
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: F♯, B and C♯, with F♯ in the bass.
- First inversion (F♯sus4/B): B, C♯ and F♯, with B in the bass.
- Second inversion (F♯sus4/C♯): C♯, F♯ and B, with C♯ in the bass.
Keys that use F♯ suspended fourth
F♯ suspended fourth appears in 10 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F♯ major (6 sharps) | Isus4 | Tonic |
| E major (4 sharps) | IIsus4 | Supertonic |
| D major (2 sharps) | IIIsus4 | Mediant |
| B major (5 sharps) | Vsus4 | Dominant |
| A major (3 sharps) | VIsus4 | Submediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | Isus4 | Tonic |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | IIIsus4 | Mediant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | IVsus4 | Subdominant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | Vsus4 | Dominant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | VIIsus4 | Subtonic |
Progressions with F♯ suspended fourth
- Sus4 resolution in F♯ major (Isus4–I): F♯sus4 – F♯
F♯ suspended fourth or G♭ suspended fourth?
F♯ suspended fourth (F♯sus4) and G♭ suspended fourth (G♭sus4) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written G♭ suspended fourth in flat keys and F♯ suspended fourth in sharp keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F♯ suspended fourth chord?
F♯, B and C♯: root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-4-5.
Which keys use F♯ suspended fourth?
Mainly as the Isus4 in F♯ major and the Vsus4 in B major. In total it appears in 10 major and minor keys.
Is G♭ suspended fourth the same chord as F♯ suspended fourth?
Yes: G♭ suspended fourth and F♯ suspended fourth sound the same and are played the same way. It is written G♭ suspended fourth in flat keys and F♯ suspended fourth in sharp keys.
What does “sus” mean in F♯ suspended fourth?
That the chord is suspended: the third is replaced by another note, leaving F♯, B and C♯ (root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth). Without a third, it can move to either the major or the minor triad on the same root.