Piano chord
C7sus4C seventh suspended fourth
- C1
- F4
- G5
- B♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play C7sus4 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.
C7sus4 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: CRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
C7sus4 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C an octave lower, the right hand plays C–F–G–B♭.
C7sus4 on other instruments
About the C7sus4 chord
To build C 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 C7sus4 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of C7sus4 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 Csus4, C7sus4 has one more note, B♭.
Questions
What notes are in the C7sus4 chord?
C7sus4 (C seventh suspended fourth) has 4 notes: C (1), F (4), G (5), B♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does C7sus4 have?
C7sus4 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 C7sus4 and Csus4?
Compared with Csus4, C7sus4 has one more note, B♭.
Can I play C7sus4 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C7sus4 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.