Piano chord
C♯7sus4C sharp seventh suspended fourth
- C♯1
- F♯4
- G♯5
- B♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play C♯7sus4 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on F♯, 4 on G♯, 5 on B.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on F♯, 2 on G♯, 1 on B.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C♯ – F♯ – G♯ – B
1st inversion · F♯ – G♯ – B – C♯
2nd inversion · G♯ – B – C♯ – F♯
3rd inversion · B – C♯ – F♯ – G♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
C♯7sus4 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on C♯; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: C♯Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: BRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
C♯7sus4 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays C♯–F♯–G♯–B.
C♯7sus4 on other instruments
About the C♯7sus4 chord
To build C sharp seventh suspended fourth, take these 4 notes from the root up: C♯ (1), F♯ (4), G♯ (5), B (♭7). A seventh with a suspended fourth: the dominant seventh without its third, the fourth in its place. Used before the plain seventh chord or as a softer dominant.
On the keyboard, start from C♯ and add the other notes above it: C♯ – F♯ – G♯ – B. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so C♯7sus4 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of C♯7sus4 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–G♯–B–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–C♯–F♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B (B–C♯–F♯–G♯).
Compared with C♯sus4, C♯7sus4 has one more note, B.
Questions
What notes are in the C♯7sus4 chord?
C♯7sus4 (C sharp seventh suspended fourth) has 4 notes: C♯ (1), F♯ (4), G♯ (5), B (♭7).
How many inversions does C♯7sus4 have?
C♯7sus4 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–F♯–G♯–B); 1st inversion (F♯–G♯–B–C♯); 2nd inversion (G♯–B–C♯–F♯); 3rd inversion (B–C♯–F♯–G♯).
What is the difference between C♯7sus4 and C♯sus4?
Compared with C♯sus4, C♯7sus4 has one more note, B.
Can I play C♯7sus4 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C♯7sus4 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.