How To Play The Heavenly Gsus Chord on Guitar (Gsus2 & Gsus4)

Behold, guitar acolytes, as we approach the altar of the Gsus chord on guitar, the holy grail of suspended chords that might just have the choir singing hallelujah!

With the Gsus, you can choose your own musical prophecy: the Gsus4, where the 4th scale degree blesses us with its presence, or the Gsus2, where the 2nd scale degree ascends to the mix.

These suspended chords are not just a collection of notes, but a divine journey from musical tension to the promised land of G Major resolution.

Armed with sacred chord charts and celestial wisdom, this scripture will lead you through the pearly gates of Gsus enlightenment. Let us strum, and let it be heavenly!

How To Play The Heavenly Gsus Chord on Guitar (Gsus2 & Gsus4)

G sus4 Guitar Chord Theory

Dive into the structural essence of the G sus4 guitar chord, a cornerstone of suspense in the guitarist’s harmonic arsenal. Below we distill the theoretical underpinnings of the Gsus4, outlining its construction, distinctive qualities, and its pivotal role in musical tension and resolution.

AspectDescription
NotesG, C, D
CreationReplace the 3rd (B) of G Major with the 4th (C)
QualitiesDramatic, unstable, tension-building
Main FunctionTo create tension, with the 4th resolving to the 3rd
Typical UsePlayed before resolving to G Major

How To Play The Gsus4 Guitar Chord

When practicing these voices, try to resolve C down to B to create a G major chord!

Gsus4 Open Chord

Just because a chord is in an open position, doesn’t always make it easy! 

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  • Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string.
  • Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string.
  • Place your pinky on the 3rd fret of the 1st string.

Gsus 4 Barre Chord

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  • Place your 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string and barre.
  • Place your middle finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string.
  • Place your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 4th string.
  • Place your pinky on the 6th fret of the 3rd string. 

Other Ways To Play Gsus4

Method 3

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  • Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string and barre.
  • Place your middle finger on the 12th fret of the 4th string.
  • Place your ring finger on the 12th fret of the 3rd string.
  • Place your pinky on the 13th fret of the 2nd string.

Method 4

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  • Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string and barre.
  • Place your ring finger on the 6th fret of the 4th string.
  • Place your pinky on the 6th fret of the 3rd string.

Method 5

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  • Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string.
  • Place your middle finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string.
  • Place your ring finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string.
  • Place your pinky on the 8th fret of the 1st string.

Method 6

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  • Place your index finger on the 12th fret of the 4th string and barre.
  • Place your middle finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string.
gsus chord on guitar

G sus2 Guitar Chord Theory

With the Gsus4 chord in your repertoire, let’s shift our focus to its serene counterpart—the G sus2 guitar chord. This table encapsulates the serene and stable nature of the Gsus2, including its construction, characteristics, and its versatile role in chord progressions.

AspectDescription
NotesG, A, D
CreationReplace the 3rd (B) of G Major with the 2nd (A)
QualitiesStable, dreamy
ResolutionOften resolves upwards to G Major or stands independently
SubstitutionCan sometimes replace G Major

How To Play The Gsus2 Guitar Chord

Now that you understand the theory behind the Gsus2, we can begin looking at some chord charts.

Gsus2 Open Chord

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  • Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
  • Place your middle on the 3rd finger of the 6th fret.
  • Place the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  • Place your pinky 3rd fret on the 1st string.

Gsus 2 Barre Chord

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  • Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the 5th string and barre.
  • Place your ring finger on the 12th fret of the 4th string.
  • Place your pinky 12th fret of the 3rd string.

Other Ways To Play Gsus 2

Method 3

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  • Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string and barre.
  • Place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string.
  • Place your pinky on the 8th of the 2nd string.

Method 4

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  • Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
  • Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  • Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
  • Place your pinky on the 3rd fret of the 4th string.

Method 5

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  • Place your index finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string and barre.
  • Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string.
  • Place your pinky on the 10th fret of the 5th string.

Learn To Play Other Suspended Guitar Chords

Now that you’ve had your soulful encounter with the Gsus chord on guitar, it’s time to explore the celestial realm of suspended harmonies further. Here’s a few other suspended guitar chords that will add a divine touch to your playing repertoire.

LetterSuspended Chords
AAsus2, Asus4
BBsus2, Bsus4
CCsus2, Csus4
DDsus2, Dsus4
EEsus2, Esus4
FFsus2, Fsus4
GGsus2, Gsus4

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gsus4 mean in guitar?

When you see Gsus 4 in tablature, all it means is that instead of playing the traditional G Major Chord (GBD), you play the chord tones, GCD.

What key is Gsus in?

The gsus chord on guitar can be included in any of the keys that include the chord tones G C and D in the key signature. For example the Key of C and G.

What is the banned church chord?

A tritone is an interval of an augmented 4th, or a diminished 5th. The tritone was originally banned in many catholic spaces in the medieval ages, however many composers became edgy and used it purposely through their pieces in rebellion of this superstition and the church’s power. 

Not only was the tritone’s sound too harsh and daunting to praise god, but it was also notoriously difficult to sing. Neither of the Gsus chords contain a tritone.

Conclusion

And lo, after your divine strumming session, you’ve become a disciple of the Gsus chord on guitar, a miraculous chord that comes in two apostolic variations: the Gsus4, with its holy trinity of G, C, and D, and the Gsus2, featuring the angelic chorus of G, A, and D.

While the Gsus4 is like a prophet, always leading back to the promised land of G Major, the Gsus2 is a free spirit, content to wander the fretboard in blissful autonomy.

Remember, young rock apostle, to let your Sus chords ascend to their major heavens, training your ear to hear the divine resolution. Go forth and spread the good news of Gsus, for it shall bring forth rock salvation to your guitar playing!

gsus chord on guitar

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