All chords › G# › Suspended & Altered

G# 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 · 148 playable voicings · frets 1–14 · 51 use an open string

51 of the 148 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 G#, the IV of C#, and the V of Eb.

Jump to: G#sus2 · G#sus4 · G#7sus4 · G#maj7sus4 · G#7sus2 · G#maj7sus2 · G#6sus4 · G#6sus2 · G#m7b5 · G#m7#5 · G#dim7 · G#7b9 · G#7#9 · G#7b5 · G#aug7 · G#aug7b9 · G#m7b9

G#sus2

G#BbEb
14 shapes · open & play
X
X
4
1
1
1
X
X
X
4
1
1
X
X
3
2
1
3
4
X
X
3
4
1
2
3
X
X
X
4
1
2
3
X
X
X
4
3
1
4
X
X
X
6
1
3
2
X
X
6
1
3
4
2
X
X
X
8
4
1
1
X
X
8
4
1
1
2
X
11
1
3
4
1
1
X
X
11
1
4
2
3
X
X
X
11
1
2
3
X
X
X
11
3
1
1

G#sus2 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 G# major, i of G# minor, V of C# major, IV of Eb major, iv of Eb minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 1 1 1 X X4 1 1 1 – –
4 1 1 X X X4 1 1 – – –
4 X X 3 4 42 – – 1 3 4
X X 6 3 4 4– – 4 1 2 3
4 X X X 4 61 – – – 2 3
X X 6 X 4 6– – 3 – 1 4
X X 6 8 X 6– – 1 3 – 2
X X 6 8 9 6– – 1 3 4 2
X 11 8 8 X X– 4 1 1 – –
X 11 8 8 9 X– 4 1 1 2 –
X 11 13 13 11 11– 1 3 4 1 1
X 11 X 13 11 11– 1 – 4 2 3
X 11 X X 11 11– 1 – – 2 3
X X X 13 11 11– – – 3 1 1

G#sus4

G#C#Eb
12 shapes · open & play
X
X
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
3
4
1
4
1
1
3
4
1
1
4
1
2
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
4
1
3
4
X
X
X
4
3
4
1
X
X
X
6
1
3
4
X
X
X
8
3
4
1
X
X
X
11
1
1
2
X
X
11
1
1
3
2
X
X
11
1
1
4
2
X
11
1
1
3
4
2

G#sus4 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 G# major, i of G# minor, V of C# major, v of C# minor, iv of Eb minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 4 1 1 X X3 4 1 1 – –
4 4 1 X X X3 4 1 – – –
4 4 6 6 4 41 1 3 4 1 1
4 6 6 6 4 41 2 3 4 1 1
4 6 X 6 X X1 3 – 4 – –
X X 6 6 4 X– – 3 4 1 –
X X 6 8 X 9– – 1 3 – 4
X 11 11 8 X X– 3 4 1 – –
X 11 11 X X 11– 1 1 – – 2
X 11 11 13 X 11– 1 1 3 – 2
X 11 11 X 14 11– 1 1 – 4 2
X 11 11 13 14 11– 1 1 3 4 2

G#7sus4

G#C#EbF#
7 shapes · open & play
4
1
1
1
4
2
3
4
1
3
1
4
1
1
X
X
6
1
3
2
4
X
11
1
1
1
4
2
X
X
11
1
2
4
3
X
X
11
1
3
2
4
X
11
1
3
1
4
1

G#7sus4 turns up as the i, V, v, iv chord across 8 keys: i of G# minor, V of C# major, v of C# minor, iv of Eb minor, vi of B major, ii of F# major, iii of E major, VII of Bb minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 4 4 6 4 41 1 1 4 2 3
4 6 4 6 4 41 3 1 4 1 1
X X 6 8 7 9– – 1 3 2 4
X 11 11 11 14 11– 1 1 1 4 2
X 11 X 11 14 11– 1 – 2 4 3
X 11 13 11 14 X– 1 3 2 4 –
X 11 13 11 14 11– 1 3 1 4 1

G#maj7sus4

G#C#EbG
10 shapes · open & play
O
X
X
3
4
1
X
X
3
3
4
2
1
O
4
1
1
4
2
3
4
1
1
2
3
1
1
4
1
3
2
4
1
1
X
X
8
3
4
1
1
X
8
3
4
1
1
2
X
O
11
1
1
4
2
X
11
1
1
3
4
2
X
11
1
3
2
4
1

G#maj7sus4 is the I and the III chord of G# major and F minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#maj7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 4 1 0 X X3 4 1 – – –
X X 6 6 4 3– – 3 4 2 1
4 4 5 0 4 41 1 4 – 2 3
4 4 5 6 4 41 1 2 3 1 1
4 6 5 6 4 41 3 2 4 1 1
X 11 11 8 8 X– 3 4 1 1 –
X 11 11 8 8 9– 3 4 1 1 2
X 11 11 0 14 11– 1 1 – 4 2
X 11 11 12 14 11– 1 1 3 4 2
X 11 13 12 14 11– 1 3 2 4 1

G#7sus2

G#BbEbF#
5 shapes · open & play
X
X
4
1
2
3
4
X
X
6
1
4
3
2
X
11
1
3
1
1
1
X
X
11
1
4
2
3
X
11
1
3
1
1
4

G#7sus2 turns up as the i, V, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of G# minor, V of C# major, iv of Eb minor, vi of B major, ii of F# major, VII of Bb minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 X 4 X 4 61 – 2 – 3 4
X X 6 8 7 6– – 1 4 3 2
X 11 13 11 11 11– 1 3 1 1 1
X 11 13 11 11 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 11 13 11 11 14– 1 3 1 1 4

G#maj7sus2

G#BbEbG
9 shapes · open & play
O
X
X
4
1
1
X
X
3
4
1
3
2
X
X
O
4
3
1
4
X
X
6
1
3
4
2
X
X
8
4
1
1
1
X
O
11
1
4
2
3
X
X
O
11
1
2
3
X
11
1
3
2
1
1
X
X
11
1
4
2
3

G#maj7sus2 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of G# major, IV of Eb major, VI of C minor, III of F minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#maj7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 1 1 0 X X4 1 1 – – –
X X 6 3 4 3– – 4 1 3 2
X X 6 0 4 6– – 3 – 1 4
X X 6 8 8 6– – 1 3 4 2
X 11 8 8 8 X– 4 1 1 1 –
X 11 13 0 11 11– 1 4 – 2 3
X 11 X 0 11 11– 1 – – 2 3
X 11 13 12 11 11– 1 3 2 1 1
X 11 X 12 11 11– 1 – 4 2 3

G#6sus4

G#C#EbF
5 shapes · open & play
3
4
1
1
2
1
4
1
3
3
3
3
1
X
X
6
1
3
2
4
X
9
3
3
2
1
4
X
X
10
2
3
1
4

G#6sus4 turns up as the I, V, iv, ii chord across 6 keys: I of G# major, V of C# major, iv of Eb minor, ii of F# major, III of F minor, VII of Bb minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#6sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 4 1 1 2 13 4 1 1 2 1
4 6 6 6 6 41 3 3 3 3 1
X X 6 8 6 9– – 1 3 2 4
X 11 11 10 9 11– 3 3 2 1 4
X 11 11 10 X 11– 2 3 1 – 4

G#6sus2

G#BbEbF
4 shapes · open & play
X
X
4
1
1
2
X
X
6
1
4
2
3
X
X
10
2
1
3
4
X
X
11
1
3
2
4

G#6sus2 turns up as the I, V, IV, iv chord across 8 keys: I of G# major, V of C# major, IV of Eb major, iv of Eb minor, VI of C minor, ii of F# major, III of F minor, VII of Bb minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G#6sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 1 1 X X 14 1 1 – – 2
X X 6 8 6 6– – 1 4 2 3
X 11 X 10 11 11– 2 – 1 3 4
X 11 13 X 11 13– 1 3 – 2 4

G#m7b5

G#BDF#
18 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
4
1
2
O
O
4
2
1
3
X
O
X
O
3
1
O
O
3
1
4
2
X
X
3
2
3
4
1
X
O
4
1
2
3
4
O
4
1
2
1
1
4
4
1
2
1
1
4
1
4
1
2
3
1
4
1
4
1
2
1
1
3
4
X
X
6
1
2
3
4
X
O
9
3
1
4
2
X
9
3
1
4
1
2
X
O
O
10
2
3
1
X
O
O
X
11
1
2
X
O
X
O
11
1
4
X
X
11
1
3
2
4
X
11
1
2
1
3
4

G#m7b5 is the ii° and the vii° chord of F# minor and A major.

Fret and finger numbers for G#m7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 X 0 1 0 24 – – 1 – 2
4 2 0 1 0 24 2 – 1 – 3
4 X 0 X 0 23 – – – – 1
4 2 0 4 0 23 1 – 4 – 2
4 X 4 4 3 X2 – 3 4 1 –
4 X 0 7 7 71 – – 2 3 4
4 5 4 4 0 71 2 1 1 – 4
4 5 4 4 7 41 2 1 1 4 1
4 5 6 4 7 41 2 3 1 4 1
4 5 4 4 7 71 2 1 1 3 4
X X 6 7 7 7– – 1 2 3 4
X 11 9 11 0 10– 3 1 4 – 2
X 11 9 11 9 10– 3 1 4 1 2
X 11 0 11 0 10– 2 – 3 – 1
X 11 0 11 0 X– 1 – 2 – –
X 11 0 X 0 14– 1 – – – 4
X 11 12 11 12 X– 1 3 2 4 –
X 11 12 11 12 14– 1 2 1 3 4

G#m7#5

G#BEF#
11 shapes · open & play
O
3
1
1
4
2
X
X
3
1
1
2
O
O
4
1
4
2
3
4
1
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
6
1
4
2
3
X
O
9
3
1
4
2
X
O
O
9
3
1
4
X
O
O
11
1
4
2
X
X
O
O
11
1
2
X
11
1
4
1
2
3
X
X
11
1
2
3
4

G#m7#5 turns up as the i, v, vi, ii° chord across 6 keys: i of G# minor, v of C# minor, vi of B major, ii° of F# minor, iii of E major, vii° of A major.

Fret and finger numbers for G#m7#5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 2 2 4 0 23 1 1 4 – 2
4 2 2 X X 23 1 1 – – 2
4 7 4 4 0 01 4 2 3 – –
4 7 4 4 5 41 4 1 1 2 1
X X 6 9 7 7– – 1 4 2 3
X 11 9 11 9 0– 3 1 4 2 –
X 11 9 11 0 0– 3 1 4 – –
X 11 14 11 0 0– 1 4 2 – –
X 11 X 11 0 0– 1 – 2 – –
X 11 14 11 12 12– 1 4 1 2 3
X 11 X 11 12 12– 1 – 2 3 4

G#dim7

G#BDF
9 shapes · open & play
X
O
X
O
4
1
X
O
O
4
1
2
X
O
X
3
2
3
1
X
X
3
3
1
4
2
4
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
6
1
3
2
4
X
O
O
X
10
2
1
X
X
10
2
3
1
4
X
O
X
O
11
1
3

G#dim7 — 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 G#dim7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 X 0 X 0 14 – – – – 1
4 X 0 1 0 14 – – 1 – 2
4 5 3 X 0 X2 3 1 – – –
4 X 3 4 3 X3 – 1 4 2 –
4 5 6 4 6 41 2 3 1 4 1
X X 6 7 6 7– – 1 3 2 4
X 11 0 10 0 X– 2 – 1 – –
X 11 12 10 12 X– 2 3 1 4 –
X 11 0 X 0 13– 1 – – – 3

G#7b9

G#CEbF#A
3 shapes · open & play
O
4
1
1
1
2
O
4
1
2
1
3
X
10
2
1
3
1
4

G#7b9 — 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 G#7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 0 1 1 1 24 – 1 1 1 2
4 0 1 2 1 24 – 1 2 1 3
X 11 10 11 10 11– 2 1 3 1 4

G#7#9

G#CEbF#B
6 shapes · open & play
O
4
3
1
1
2
4
2
1
1
1
3
3
2
1
3
3
3
3
O
4
1
3
1
2
4
4
1
3
1
2
1
4
X
O
10
2
1
3
4

G#7#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 G#7#9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 3 1 1 0 24 3 1 1 – 2
4 2 1 1 1 24 2 1 1 1 3
4 3 4 4 4 42 1 3 3 3 3
4 6 4 5 0 71 3 1 2 – 4
4 6 4 5 4 71 3 1 2 1 4
X 11 10 11 0 11– 2 1 3 – 4

G#7b5

G#CDF#
11 shapes · open & play
X
O
4
1
1
2
X
O
X
4
1
2
O
4
3
1
1
2
O
X
4
2
3
1
4
1
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
6
1
2
3
4
X
X
10
2
3
4
1
X
10
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
10
3
1
4
2
X
O
X
11
1
2
3
X
11
1
2
1
3
4

G#7b5 — 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 G#7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 X 0 1 1 24 – – 1 1 2
4 X 0 X 1 24 – – – 1 2
4 3 0 1 1 24 3 – 1 1 2
4 3 0 X 3 24 2 – – 3 1
4 5 4 5 7 41 2 1 3 4 1
X X 6 7 7 8– – 1 2 3 4
X 11 X 11 13 10– 2 – 3 4 1
X 11 10 11 13 10– 2 1 3 4 1
X 11 10 11 X 10– 3 1 4 – 2
X 11 0 11 13 X– 1 – 2 3 –
X 11 12 11 13 14– 1 2 1 3 4

G#aug7

G#CEF#
12 shapes · open & play
X
X
4
3
1
2
X
X
O
3
2
1
3
O
4
1
4
1
2
3
4
1
4
1
2
3
1
X
X
O
5
2
1
3
X
X
6
1
4
2
3
X
O
9
3
2
4
1
X
X
O
10
2
1
3
X
X
10
2
1
3
4
X
X
O
11
1
2
3
X
11
1
4
1
3
2
X
X
11
1
2
4
3

G#aug7 — 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 G#aug7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 3 2 X X 24 3 1 – – 2
4 3 4 X X 02 1 3 – – –
4 7 4 5 5 01 4 1 2 3 –
4 7 4 5 5 41 4 1 2 3 1
X X 6 5 7 0– – 2 1 3 –
X X 6 9 7 8– – 1 4 2 3
X 11 10 11 9 0– 3 2 4 1 –
X 11 10 11 X 0– 2 1 3 – –
X 11 10 11 X 12– 2 1 3 – 4
X 11 X 11 13 0– 1 – 2 3 –
X 11 14 11 13 12– 1 4 1 3 2
X 11 X 11 13 12– 1 – 2 4 3

G#aug7b9

G#CEF#A
6 shapes · open & play
O
4
2
1
1
3
X
O
3
2
4
1
2
3
2
1
1
4
1
O
O
4
1
3
2
4
X
O
10
3
1
4
2
X
10
2
1
3
1
4

G#aug7b9 — 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 G#aug7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 0 2 1 1 24 – 2 1 1 3
4 3 4 2 X 03 2 4 1 – –
4 3 2 2 5 23 2 1 1 4 1
4 0 6 5 7 01 – 3 2 4 –
X 11 10 11 10 0– 3 1 4 2 –
X 11 10 11 10 12– 2 1 3 1 4

G#m7b9

G#BEbF#A
6 shapes · open & play
O
O
4
1
1
2
O
O
4
1
2
3
2
1
3
1
4
1
O
4
1
3
1
1
2
4
1
3
1
1
1
2
4
1
3
1
1
4
2

G#m7b9 is the v and the iii chord of C# minor and E major.

Fret and finger numbers for G#m7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
4 0 1 1 0 24 – 1 1 – 2
4 0 1 2 0 24 – 1 2 – 3
4 2 4 2 4 22 1 3 1 4 1
4 6 4 4 0 51 3 1 1 – 2
4 6 4 4 4 51 3 1 1 1 2
4 6 4 4 7 51 3 1 1 4 2

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.