F♯ Sus4 Triads on Guitar: Every Inversion on Every String Set

A F♯ sus4 triad is F♯, B and C♯ (1 4 5). It has three arrangements, root position, first inversion and second inversion, and each can be played on four groups of three strings: all twelve shapes are below.

Keys

Triads — F♯sus4

Root position

6C shape
9A shape
11G shape
2E shape

The notes of F♯sus4

F♯ sus4 is a perfect fourth (five frets) and then a major second, with no third at all. Root position puts F♯ at the bottom (F♯, B and C♯); first inversion puts B at the bottom (B, C♯ and F♯); second inversion puts C♯ at the bottom (C♯, F♯ and B).

It's the same pitch as G♭sus4; this page uses F♯ because it's spelled with fewer sharps or flats.

F♯sus4 replaces the third with the fourth, B. With no third it is neither major nor minor; the fourth wants to fall a semitone or a tone to the third, which is why F♯sus4 so often resolves to F♯ or F♯m.

F♯sus4 on every string set

On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 11–14, first inversion at frets 4–7 and second inversion at fret 9.

F♯sus4 triad, root position, on the low E, A and D strings: F sharp (root) on the low E string, fret 14; B on the A string, fret 14; C sharp on the D string, fret 11.
Root position
F♯sus4 triad, first inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: B on the low E string, fret 7; C sharp on the A string, fret 4; F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4.
First inversion
F♯sus4 triad, second inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: C sharp on the low E string, fret 9; F sharp (root) on the A string, fret 9; B on the D string, fret 9.
Second inversion

On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 6–9, first inversion at frets 11–14 and second inversion at fret 4.

F♯sus4 triad, root position, on the A, D and G strings: F sharp (root) on the A string, fret 9; B on the D string, fret 9; C sharp on the G string, fret 6.
Root position
F♯sus4 triad, first inversion, on the A, D and G strings: B on the A string, fret 14; C sharp on the D string, fret 11; F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11.
First inversion
F♯sus4 triad, second inversion, on the A, D and G strings: C sharp on the A string, fret 4; F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4; B on the G string, fret 4.
Second inversion

On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 2–4, first inversion at frets 6–9 and second inversion at frets 0–11.

F♯sus4 triad, root position, on the D, G and B strings: F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4; B on the G string, fret 4; C sharp on the B string, fret 2.
Root position
F♯sus4 triad, first inversion, on the D, G and B strings: B on the D string, fret 9; C sharp on the G string, fret 6; F sharp (root) on the B string, fret 7.
First inversion
F♯sus4 triad, second inversion, on the D, G and B strings: C sharp on the D string, fret 11; F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11; B on the B string, fret 0.
Second inversion

On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 0–11, first inversion at frets 2–4 and second inversion at frets 6–7.

F♯sus4 triad, root position, on the G, B and high e strings: F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11; B on the B string, fret 0; C sharp on the high e string, fret 9.
Root position
F♯sus4 triad, first inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: B on the G string, fret 4; C sharp on the B string, fret 2; F sharp (root) on the high e string, fret 2.
First inversion
F♯sus4 triad, second inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: C sharp on the G string, fret 6; F sharp (root) on the B string, fret 7; B on the high e string, fret 7.
Second inversion

Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes

The practice pad above shows F♯sus4's triads inside each CAGED shape. Use the R, 2, 3 and V switches to see each arrangement:

  • Root position: C shape (fret 6), A shape (fret 9), G shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 2).
  • First inversion: C shape (fret 6), G shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 2).
  • Second inversion: C shape (fret 6), A shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 4).

Where F♯sus4 appears

F♯sus4 isn't built on the scale's thirds, so it isn't a diatonic chord in the usual sense, but all three of its notes fit 12 keys: D major (on the 3rd degree), E major (on the 2nd degree), F♯ major (on the 1st degree), A major (on the 6th degree) and B major (on the 5th degree), and C♯ minor (4th), E♭ minor (3rd), F♯ minor (1st), G♯ minor (7th) and B minor (5th).

Of those, D major, E major and A major are keys guitarists play in constantly, because their open strings ring with the scale, so F♯sus4 turns up often in songs.

Open strings and capo options for F♯sus4

One open string is part of F♯sus4: the B string (the third). None of them is the root, so they colour a voicing rather than anchor it.

A sus chord is a pause before major or minor: F♯sus4 keeps the root and fifth and moves the third, so its closest chords share the same root.

F♯sus4 triad FAQs

What notes are in a F♯ sus4 triad?

F♯, B and C♯. The formula is 1 4 5.

What is the first inversion of F♯sus4?

B, C♯ and F♯, with B in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 4, fret 2 and fret 2.

Is F♯sus4 major or minor?

Neither. It has no third: the fourth, B, takes its place, which is why it sounds open and unresolved.

Learn more

How to use guitar triads explains inversions and how to use them in rhythm parts and solos, and triads on all string sets goes through each set in turn. The triad library has every chord.