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 — Fsus4

Root position

5C shape
8A shape
10G shape
1E shape

The notes of Fsus4

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♭).

Fsus4 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 Fsus4 so often resolves to F or Fm.

Fsus4 on every string set

On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 10–13, first inversion at frets 3–6 and second inversion at fret 8.

Fsus4 triad, root position, on the low E, A and D strings: F (root) on the low E string, fret 13; B flat on the A string, fret 13; C on the D string, fret 10.
Root position
Fsus4 triad, first inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: B flat on the low E string, fret 6; C on the A string, fret 3; F (root) on the D string, fret 3.
First inversion
Fsus4 triad, second inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: C on the low E string, fret 8; F (root) on the A string, fret 8; B flat on the D string, fret 8.
Second inversion

On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 5–8, first inversion at frets 10–13 and second inversion at fret 3.

Fsus4 triad, root position, on the A, D and G strings: F (root) on the A string, fret 8; B flat on the D string, fret 8; C on the G string, fret 5.
Root position
Fsus4 triad, first inversion, on the A, D and G strings: B flat on the A string, fret 13; C on the D string, fret 10; F (root) on the G string, fret 10.
First inversion
Fsus4 triad, second inversion, on the A, D and G strings: C on the A string, fret 3; F (root) on the D string, fret 3; B flat on the G string, fret 3.
Second inversion

On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 1–3, first inversion at frets 5–8 and second inversion at frets 10–11.

Fsus4 triad, root position, on the D, G and B strings: F (root) on the D string, fret 3; B flat on the G string, fret 3; C on the B string, fret 1.
Root position
Fsus4 triad, first inversion, on the D, G and B strings: B flat on the D string, fret 8; C on the G string, fret 5; F (root) on the B string, fret 6.
First inversion
Fsus4 triad, second inversion, on the D, G and B strings: C on the D string, fret 10; F (root) on the G string, fret 10; B flat on the B string, fret 11.
Second inversion

On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 8–11, first inversion at frets 1–3 and second inversion at frets 5–6.

Fsus4 triad, root position, on the G, B and high e strings: F (root) on the G string, fret 10; B flat on the B string, fret 11; C on the high e string, fret 8.
Root position
Fsus4 triad, first inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: B flat on the G string, fret 3; C on the B string, fret 1; F (root) on the high e string, fret 1.
First inversion
Fsus4 triad, second inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: C on the G string, fret 5; F (root) on the B string, fret 6; B flat on the high e string, fret 6.
Second inversion

Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes

The practice pad above shows Fsus4's triads inside each CAGED shape. Use the R, 2, 3 and V switches to see each arrangement:

  • Root position: C shape (fret 5), A shape (fret 8), G shape (fret 10) and E shape (fret 1).
  • First inversion: C shape (fret 5), G shape (fret 10) and E shape (fret 1).
  • Second inversion: C shape (fret 5), A shape (fret 10) and E shape (fret 3).

Where Fsus4 appears

Fsus4 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), D minor (3rd), F minor (1st), G minor (7th) and B♭ minor (5th).

Of those, D minor is a key guitarists play in constantly, because its open strings ring with the scale, so Fsus4 turns up often in songs.

Open strings and capo options for Fsus4

No open string is a note of Fsus4, so every voicing on this page is fully fretted and there's nothing to let ring.

A sus chord is a pause before major or minor: Fsus4 keeps the root and fifth and moves the third, so its closest chords share the same root.

Fsus4 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 Fsus4?

B♭, C and F, with B♭ in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 3, fret 1 and fret 1.

Is Fsus4 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.