All chords › F › Suspended & Altered

F Suspended & Altered Chords

Chords that swap the third for a second or a fourth, and chords that bend the fifth or the ninth out of shape. Suspensions blur the major/minor question; altered chords sharpen the pull toward whatever comes next.

17 chord types · 173 playable voicings · frets 1–15 · 76 use an open string

76 of the 173 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of F, the IV of Bb, and the V of C.

Jump to: Fsus2 · Fsus4 · F7sus4 · Fmaj7sus4 · F7sus2 · Fmaj7sus2 · F6sus4 · F6sus2 · Fm7b5 · Fm7#5 · Fdim7 · F7b9 · F7#9 · F7b5 · Faug7 · Faug7b9 · Fm7b9

Fsus2

FGC
15 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
1
2
3
X
X
O
3
1
1
X
X
O
3
1
4
X
X
X
3
1
3
2
X
X
3
1
3
4
2
X
X
X
5
4
1
1
X
X
5
4
1
1
2
X
X
O
6
3
1
4
X
O
8
1
4
2
3
X
X
O
8
1
2
3
X
8
1
3
4
1
1
X
X
8
1
4
2
3
X
X
X
8
3
1
1
O
X
X
10
4
1
1
X
X
10
4
1
1
1

Fsus2 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of F major, i of F minor, V of Bb major, IV of C major, iv of C minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Fsus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 X X 0 1 11 – – – 2 3
X X 3 0 1 1– – 3 – 1 1
X X 3 0 1 3– – 3 – 1 4
X X 3 5 X 3– – 1 3 – 2
X X 3 5 6 3– – 1 3 4 2
X 8 5 5 X X– 4 1 1 – –
X 8 5 5 6 X– 4 1 1 2 –
X 8 X 0 6 8– 3 – – 1 4
X 8 10 0 8 8– 1 4 – 2 3
X 8 X 0 8 8– 1 – – 2 3
X 8 10 10 8 8– 1 3 4 1 1
X 8 X 10 8 8– 1 – 4 2 3
X X X 10 8 8– – – 3 1 1
13 10 10 0 X X4 1 1 – – –
13 10 10 10 X X4 1 1 1 – –

Fsus4

FBbC
12 shapes · open & play
1
1
3
4
1
1
1
2
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
1
3
4
X
X
X
3
4
1
X
X
X
3
1
3
4
X
X
X
5
3
4
1
X
X
X
8
1
1
2
X
X
8
1
1
3
2
X
X
8
1
1
4
2
X
8
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
10
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
10
3
4
1

Fsus4 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of F major, i of F minor, V of Bb major, v of Bb minor, iv of C minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Fsus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 1 3 3 1 11 1 3 4 1 1
1 3 3 3 1 11 2 3 4 1 1
1 3 X 3 X X1 3 – 4 – –
X X 3 3 1 X– – 3 4 1 –
X X 3 5 X 6– – 1 3 – 4
X 8 8 5 X X– 3 4 1 – –
X 8 8 X X 8– 1 1 – – 2
X 8 8 10 X 8– 1 1 3 – 2
X 8 8 X 11 8– 1 1 – 4 2
X 8 8 10 11 8– 1 1 3 4 2
13 13 10 10 X X3 4 1 1 – –
13 13 10 X X X3 4 1 – – –

F7sus4

FBbCEb
7 shapes · open & play
1
1
1
4
2
3
1
3
1
4
1
1
X
X
3
1
3
2
4
X
8
1
1
1
4
2
X
X
8
1
2
4
3
X
8
1
3
1
4
1
X
X
8
1
3
2
4

F7sus4 turns up as the i, V, v, iv chord across 8 keys: i of F minor, V of Bb major, v of Bb minor, iv of C minor, vi of G# major, ii of Eb major, iii of C# major, VII of G minor.

Fret and finger numbers for F7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 1 1 3 1 11 1 1 4 2 3
1 3 1 3 1 11 3 1 4 1 1
X X 3 5 4 6– – 1 3 2 4
X 8 8 8 11 8– 1 1 1 4 2
X 8 X 8 11 8– 1 – 2 4 3
X 8 10 8 11 8– 1 3 1 4 1
X 8 10 8 11 X– 1 3 2 4 –

Fmaj7sus4

FBbCE
14 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
1
1
2
O
1
1
3
4
2
O
1
2
3
4
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
3
2
4
1
1
X
O
5
3
4
1
1
X
X
O
5
3
4
1
X
5
3
4
1
1
2
X
8
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
8
1
3
4
2
X
8
1
3
2
4
1
X
O
10
3
4
1
1
X
X
O
10
3
4
1
X
X
12
2
3
4
1

Fmaj7sus4 is the I and the III chord of F major and D minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Fmaj7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 1 X X 1 01 1 – – 2 –
1 1 3 3 1 01 1 3 4 2 –
1 3 3 3 1 01 2 3 4 1 –
1 1 2 3 1 11 1 2 3 1 1
1 3 2 3 1 11 3 2 4 1 1
X 8 8 5 5 0– 3 4 1 1 –
X 8 8 5 X 0– 3 4 1 – –
X 8 8 5 5 6– 3 4 1 1 2
X 8 8 9 11 8– 1 1 3 4 2
X 8 X 9 11 8– 1 – 3 4 2
X 8 10 9 11 8– 1 3 2 4 1
13 13 10 10 X 03 4 1 1 – –
13 13 10 X X 03 4 1 – – –
13 13 X X 13 122 3 – – 4 1

F7sus2

FGCEb
8 shapes · open & play
O
X
X
1
3
2
X
X
1
2
3
4
X
X
3
1
4
3
2
X
8
1
3
1
1
1
X
X
8
1
4
2
3
X
8
1
3
1
1
4
O
X
10
4
1
1
2
X
X
12
2
4
3
1

F7sus2 turns up as the i, V, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of F minor, V of Bb major, iv of C minor, vi of G# major, ii of Eb major, VII of G minor.

Fret and finger numbers for F7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 3 1 0 X X1 3 2 – – –
1 X 1 X 1 31 – 2 – 3 4
X X 3 5 4 3– – 1 4 3 2
X 8 10 8 8 8– 1 3 1 1 1
X 8 10 8 8 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 8 10 8 8 11– 1 3 1 1 4
13 10 10 0 X 114 1 1 – – 2
13 15 13 12 X X2 4 3 1 – –

Fmaj7sus2

FGCE
15 shapes · open & play
O
X
O
1
3
4
O
O
1
4
3
2
O
O
1
3
4
2
X
X
O
O
3
1
X
X
3
1
3
4
2
X
O
5
4
1
1
1
X
O
5
4
1
1
2
X
O
8
1
3
4
2
X
O
O
8
1
3
2
X
O
8
1
4
3
2
X
8
1
3
2
1
1
O
X
O
10
4
1
1
X
O
10
4
1
1
1
X
X
12
4
1
3
2
X
X
O
O
13
1
2

Fmaj7sus2 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of F major, IV of C major, VI of A minor, III of D minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Fmaj7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 3 3 0 X 01 3 4 – – –
1 3 2 0 1 01 4 3 – 2 –
1 3 3 0 1 01 3 4 – 2 –
X X 3 0 1 0– – 3 – 1 –
X X 3 5 5 3– – 1 3 4 2
X 8 5 5 5 0– 4 1 1 1 –
X 8 5 5 6 0– 4 1 1 2 –
X 8 10 10 8 0– 1 3 4 2 –
X 8 10 0 8 0– 1 3 – 2 –
X 8 10 9 8 0– 1 4 3 2 –
X 8 10 9 8 8– 1 3 2 1 1
13 10 10 0 X 04 1 1 – – –
13 10 10 10 X 04 1 1 1 – –
X X 15 12 13 12– – 4 1 3 2
13 X X 0 13 01 – – – 2 –

F6sus4

FBbCD
9 shapes · open & play
X
O
X
1
3
2
X
X
3
1
3
2
4
X
O
5
4
1
2
3
X
O
X
5
4
1
2
X
X
7
2
3
1
4
X
O
X
8
1
4
2
X
O
8
1
3
4
2
10
3
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
12
2
1
4
3

F6sus4 turns up as the I, V, iv, ii chord across 6 keys: I of F major, V of Bb major, iv of C minor, ii of Eb major, III of D minor, VII of G minor.

Fret and finger numbers for F6sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 X 0 3 1 X1 – – 3 2 –
X X 3 5 3 6– – 1 3 2 4
X 8 0 5 6 6– 4 – 1 2 3
X 8 0 5 X 6– 4 – 1 – 2
X 8 8 7 X 8– 2 3 1 – 4
X 8 0 X 11 8– 1 – – 4 2
X 8 0 10 11 8– 1 – 3 4 2
13 13 10 10 11 103 4 1 1 2 1
13 X 12 15 13 X2 – 1 4 3 –

F6sus2

FGCD
14 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
X
1
2
X
O
O
1
2
3
O
O
1
4
2
3
O
O
1
3
2
4
O
O
1
3
4
2
X
X
3
1
4
2
3
X
O
O
6
3
1
4
X
O
7
2
1
3
4
X
O
O
X
8
1
2
X
O
O
8
1
2
3
X
O
8
1
4
2
3
X
O
8
1
3
2
4
X
X
10
4
1
1
2
X
X
12
2
1
1
3

F6sus2 turns up as the I, V, IV, iv chord across 8 keys: I of F major, V of Bb major, IV of C major, iv of C minor, VI of A minor, ii of Eb major, III of D minor, VII of G minor.

Fret and finger numbers for F6sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 X 0 0 1 X1 – – – 2 –
1 X 0 0 1 11 – – – 2 3
1 3 0 0 1 11 4 – – 2 3
1 3 0 0 1 31 3 – – 2 4
1 3 0 0 3 11 3 – – 4 2
X X 3 5 3 3– – 1 4 2 3
X 8 0 0 6 8– 3 – – 1 4
X 8 0 7 8 8– 2 – 1 3 4
X 8 0 0 X 8– 1 – – – 2
X 8 0 0 8 8– 1 – – 2 3
X 8 0 10 8 8– 1 – 4 2 3
X 8 10 0 8 10– 1 3 – 2 4
13 10 10 X X 104 1 1 – – 2
13 X 12 12 13 X2 – 1 1 3 –

Fm7b5

FG#BEb
14 shapes · open & play
O
1
2
1
1
4
X
O
X
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
4
1
1
2
1
1
3
4
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
3
1
2
3
4
X
O
X
6
3
1
4
X
O
6
3
1
4
2
X
6
3
1
4
1
2
X
X
8
1
2
3
4
X
8
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
8
1
3
2
4
X
X
O
11
3
4
1
X
X
12
2
3
4
1

Fm7b5 is the ii° and the vii° chord of Eb minor and F# major.

Fret and finger numbers for Fm7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 2 1 1 0 41 2 1 1 – 4
1 X 1 1 0 X1 – 2 3 – –
1 2 1 1 4 11 2 1 1 4 1
1 2 1 1 4 41 2 1 1 3 4
1 2 3 1 4 11 2 3 1 4 1
X X 3 4 4 4– – 1 2 3 4
X 8 6 8 0 X– 3 1 4 – –
X 8 6 8 0 7– 3 1 4 – 2
X 8 6 8 6 7– 3 1 4 1 2
X 8 9 X 9 11– 1 2 – 3 4
X 8 9 8 9 11– 1 2 1 3 4
X 8 9 8 9 X– 1 3 2 4 –
13 X X 13 0 113 – – 4 – 1
13 X 13 13 12 X2 – 3 4 1 –

Fm7#5

FG#C#Eb
7 shapes · open & play
X
X
1
2
3
4
1
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
3
1
4
2
3
X
8
1
4
1
2
3
X
X
8
1
4
2
3
X
X
8
1
2
3
4
X
X
11
3
1
1
2

Fm7#5 turns up as the i, v, vi, ii° chord across 6 keys: i of F minor, v of Bb minor, vi of G# major, ii° of Eb minor, iii of C# major, vii° of F# major.

Fret and finger numbers for Fm7#5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 X 1 1 2 X1 – 2 3 4 –
1 4 1 1 2 11 4 1 1 2 1
X X 3 6 4 4– – 1 4 2 3
X 8 11 8 9 9– 1 4 1 2 3
X 8 11 8 9 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 8 X 8 9 9– 1 – 2 3 4
13 11 11 X X 113 1 1 – – 2

Fdim7

FG#BD
15 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
X
1
2
X
O
X
O
1
4
X
O
O
1
2
3
O
O
1
4
2
3
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
3
1
3
2
4
X
O
X
6
3
1
2
X
O
X
7
2
3
1
X
O
7
3
1
4
2
X
O
7
2
4
3
1
X
7
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
7
2
3
1
4
O
10
4
2
1
3
1
O
X
O
X
11
3
1
X
X
12
3
1
4
2

Fdim7 — Four notes stacked a minor third apart, so it belongs to no key in particular. That symmetry makes it a pivot: it can slide into almost any chord, which is why it turns up at the seams where a song changes direction.

Fret and finger numbers for Fdim7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 X 0 1 0 X1 – – 2 – –
1 X 0 X 0 41 – – – – 4
1 X 0 1 0 11 – – 2 – 3
1 2 0 1 0 11 4 – 2 – 3
1 2 3 1 3 11 2 3 1 4 1
X X 3 4 3 4– – 1 3 2 4
X 8 6 7 0 X– 3 1 2 – –
X 8 0 X 9 7– 2 – – 3 1
X 8 0 7 9 7– 3 – 1 4 2
X 8 0 10 9 7– 2 – 4 3 1
X 8 9 7 9 7– 2 3 1 4 1
X 8 9 7 9 X– 2 3 1 4 –
13 11 0 10 12 104 2 – 1 3 1
13 11 0 X 0 X3 1 – – – –
13 X 12 13 12 X3 – 1 4 2 –

F7b9

FACEbF#
3 shapes · open & play
X
7
2
1
3
1
4
O
10
4
1
2
1
3
O
X
11
3
1
4
2

F7b9 — A dominant seventh with a flattened ninth on top. The ninth is outside the key, which is the point: it makes the resolution feel earned. Very common resolving into a minor chord.

Fret and finger numbers for F7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 8 7 8 7 8– 2 1 3 1 4
13 0 10 11 10 114 – 1 2 1 3
13 0 X 11 13 113 – – 1 4 2

F7#9

FACEbG#
6 shapes · open & play
O
1
2
2
2
2
1
3
1
2
1
4
O
10
3
1
4
1
2
10
4
2
1
1
1
3
O
11
2
3
3
3
1
12
2
1
3
3
3
3

F7#9 — The Hendrix chord. A dominant seventh carrying both a major third and a raised ninth — which is the minor third in disguise. Major and minor at once, and neither.

Fret and finger numbers for F7#9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 0 1 1 1 11 – 2 2 2 2
1 3 1 2 1 41 3 1 2 1 4
13 0 10 13 10 113 – 1 4 1 2
13 11 10 10 10 114 2 1 1 1 3
13 0 13 13 13 112 – 3 3 3 1
13 12 13 13 13 132 1 3 3 3 3

F7b5

FABEb
15 shapes · open & play
O
X
O
X
1
2
O
X
X
1
3
4
O
X
O
1
2
3
O
O
1
2
4
3
O
O
1
2
4
3
1
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
3
1
2
3
4
X
O
X
7
2
1
3
X
X
7
2
3
4
1
X
7
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
7
3
1
4
2
X
8
1
2
1
3
4
O
X
O
10
4
1
2
O
X
X
O
11
3
1
X
X
12
3
1
4
2

F7b5 — A dominant seventh with the fifth flattened. It is a V chord under tension, and it resolves like one; the flat fifth just sharpens the pull.

Fret and finger numbers for F7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 0 1 X 0 X1 – 2 – – –
1 0 X 4 4 X1 – – 3 4 –
1 0 1 X 0 11 – 2 – – 3
1 0 1 2 0 11 – 2 4 – 3
1 0 1 4 0 11 – 2 4 – 3
1 2 1 2 4 11 2 1 3 4 1
X X 3 4 4 5– – 1 2 3 4
X 8 7 8 0 X– 2 1 3 – –
X 8 X 8 10 7– 2 – 3 4 1
X 8 7 8 10 7– 2 1 3 4 1
X 8 7 8 X 7– 3 1 4 – 2
X 8 9 8 10 11– 1 2 1 3 4
13 0 X 10 0 114 – – 1 – 2
13 0 X X 0 113 – – – – 1
13 12 13 X 12 X3 1 4 – 2 –

Faug7

FAC#Eb
10 shapes · open & play
O
X
X
1
2
3
1
4
1
2
3
1
X
X
3
1
4
2
3
X
X
7
2
1
3
4
X
8
1
4
1
3
2
X
X
8
1
2
4
3
O
10
4
2
1
1
3
O
X
X
11
3
1
2
X
X
11
4
3
1
2
X
X
12
2
1
3
4

Faug7 — A dominant seventh with the fifth raised. Same job as a plain seventh — pulling toward the chord a fourth above — with more strain in the middle of the chord.

Fret and finger numbers for Faug7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 0 1 X 2 X1 – 2 – 3 –
1 4 1 2 2 11 4 1 2 3 1
X X 3 6 4 5– – 1 4 2 3
X 8 7 8 X 9– 2 1 3 – 4
X 8 11 8 10 9– 1 4 1 3 2
X 8 X 8 10 9– 1 – 2 4 3
13 0 11 10 10 114 – 2 1 1 3
13 0 11 X X 113 – 1 – – 2
13 12 11 X X 114 3 1 – – 2
13 12 13 X 14 X2 1 3 – 4 –

Faug7b9

FAC#EbF#
3 shapes · open & play
X
7
2
1
3
1
4
O
11
3
1
1
4
2
11
3
2
1
1
4
1

Faug7b9 — A dominant seventh with both the fifth and the ninth altered. It exists to make the chord it resolves to sound like relief.

Fret and finger numbers for Faug7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 8 7 8 7 9– 2 1 3 1 4
13 0 11 11 14 113 – 1 1 4 2
13 12 11 11 14 113 2 1 1 4 1

Fm7b9

FG#CEbF#
6 shapes · open & play
1
3
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
1
4
2
1
2
3
1
4
1
1
3
3
1
4
2
1
2
3
1
4
4
11
2
1
3
1
4
1

Fm7b9 is the v and the iii chord of Bb minor and C# major.

Fret and finger numbers for Fm7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
1 3 1 1 1 21 3 1 1 1 2
1 3 1 1 4 21 3 1 1 4 2
1 3 4 1 4 11 2 3 1 4 1
1 3 3 1 4 21 3 3 1 4 2
1 3 4 1 4 41 2 3 1 4 4
13 11 13 11 13 112 1 3 1 4 1

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.