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 · 217 playable voicings · frets 1–16 · 141 use an open string

141 of the 217 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 D.

Jump to: Gsus2 · Gsus4 · G7sus4 · Gmaj7sus4 · G7sus2 · Gmaj7sus2 · G6sus4 · G6sus2 · Gm7b5 · Gm7#5 · Gdim7 · G7b9 · G7#9 · G7b5 · Gaug7 · Gaug7b9 · Gm7b9

Gsus2

GAD
19 shapes · open & play
O
O
X
X
2
1
O
O
2
1
3
4
X
X
2
4
1
2
3
O
O
O
3
1
2
3
O
O
O
X
X
3
1
O
O
O
3
1
2
3
O
O
3
1
4
2
3
O
O
3
1
3
2
4
O
O
3
1
3
2
4
X
X
O
3
3
1
4
X
X
X
7
4
1
1
X
X
7
4
1
1
2
X
O
O
X
10
1
2
X
O
O
10
1
2
3
X
O
10
1
4
2
3
X
O
10
1
4
2
3
X
10
1
3
4
1
1
O
O
X
X
12
4
1
X
X
X
12
4
1
1

Gsus2 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 D major, iv of D minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Gsus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 0 0 2 X X2 – – 1 – –
3 0 0 2 3 32 – – 1 3 4
X X 5 2 3 3– – 4 1 2 3
3 0 0 0 3 31 – – – 2 3
3 0 0 0 X X1 – – – – –
3 0 0 0 3 51 – – – 2 3
3 0 5 0 3 31 – 4 – 2 3
3 0 5 0 3 51 – 3 – 2 4
3 5 0 0 3 51 3 – – 2 4
X X 5 0 3 5– – 3 – 1 4
X 10 7 7 X X– 4 1 1 – –
X 10 7 7 8 X– 4 1 1 2 –
X 10 0 0 10 X– 1 – – 2 –
X 10 0 0 10 10– 1 – – 2 3
X 10 12 0 10 10– 1 4 – 2 3
X 10 0 12 10 10– 1 – 4 2 3
X 10 12 12 10 10– 1 3 4 1 1
15 0 0 12 X X4 – – 1 – –
15 12 12 X X X4 1 1 – – –

Gsus4

GCD
14 shapes · open & play
O
O
X
3
4
1
X
O
O
X
3
1
3
1
1
3
4
1
1
3
1
2
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
3
1
3
4
X
X
X
3
3
4
1
X
X
X
5
1
3
4
X
O
7
4
1
2
3
X
O
O
8
3
1
1
X
O
O
X
10
1
4
X
O
X
10
1
1
2
X
X
10
1
1
3
2
X
10
1
1
3
4
2
O
O
X
X
15
1
1

Gsus4 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 D minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Gsus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 3 0 0 1 X3 4 – – 1 –
3 X 0 0 1 X3 – – – 1 –
3 3 5 5 3 31 1 3 4 1 1
3 5 5 5 3 31 2 3 4 1 1
3 5 X 5 X X1 3 – 4 – –
X X 5 5 3 X– – 3 4 1 –
X X 5 7 X 8– – 1 3 – 4
X 10 0 7 8 8– 4 – 1 2 3
X 10 0 0 8 8– 3 – – 1 1
X 10 0 0 13 X– 1 – – 4 –
X 10 10 0 X 10– 1 1 – – 2
X 10 10 12 X 10– 1 1 3 – 2
X 10 10 12 13 10– 1 1 3 4 2
15 15 0 0 X X1 1 – – – –

G7sus4

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

G7sus4 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 D minor, vi of Bb major, ii of F major, iii of Eb major, VII of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 3 0 0 1 13 4 – – 1 1
3 X 0 0 1 13 – – – 1 1
3 3 3 0 3 31 1 1 – 2 3
3 3 0 0 6 31 1 – – 4 2
3 3 0 5 6 31 1 – 3 4 2
3 5 3 5 3 31 3 1 4 1 1
X X 5 7 6 8– – 1 3 2 4
X 10 0 10 8 8– 3 – 4 1 1
X 10 0 0 13 13– 1 – – 3 4
X 10 10 10 13 10– 1 1 1 4 2
X 10 12 10 13 X– 1 3 2 4 –
X 10 12 10 13 10– 1 3 1 4 1

Gmaj7sus4

GCDF#
15 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
3
1
2
O
O
3
4
1
2
O
O
X
2
3
1
O
O
2
3
4
1
X
X
2
3
4
2
1
O
3
1
1
4
2
3
3
1
1
2
3
1
1
3
1
3
2
4
1
1
X
O
O
7
4
1
2
X
O
7
4
1
1
2
X
X
7
3
4
1
1
X
7
3
4
1
1
2
X
10
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
10
1
3
4
2
X
10
1
3
2
4
1

Gmaj7sus4 is the I and the III chord of G major and E minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Gmaj7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 X 0 0 1 23 – – – 1 2
3 3 0 0 1 23 4 – – 1 2
3 3 0 0 X 22 3 – – – 1
3 3 0 0 3 22 3 – – 4 1
X X 5 5 3 2– – 3 4 2 1
3 3 4 0 3 31 1 4 – 2 3
3 3 4 5 3 31 1 2 3 1 1
3 5 4 5 3 31 3 2 4 1 1
X 10 0 0 7 8– 4 – – 1 2
X 10 0 7 7 8– 4 – 1 1 2
X 10 10 7 7 X– 3 4 1 1 –
X 10 10 7 7 8– 3 4 1 1 2
X 10 10 11 13 10– 1 1 3 4 2
X 10 X 11 13 10– 1 – 3 4 2
X 10 12 11 13 10– 1 3 2 4 1

G7sus2

GADF
16 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
X
3
1
O
O
O
3
4
1
O
O
3
2
4
1
O
O
O
X
3
1
4
O
O
3
1
2
3
4
O
O
O
3
1
4
2
O
O
O
3
1
4
3
X
X
5
1
4
3
2
X
O
10
1
2
3
4
X
O
O
10
1
2
4
X
O
10
1
3
2
4
X
O
10
1
3
2
4
X
10
1
3
1
1
1
X
X
10
1
4
2
3
X
10
1
3
1
1
4
O
O
X
15
1
2
3

G7sus2 turns up as the i, V, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of G minor, V of C major, iv of D minor, vi of Bb major, ii of F major, VII of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 0 0 0 X 13 – – – – 1
3 0 0 0 3 13 – – – 4 1
3 0 0 2 3 13 – – 2 4 1
3 0 0 0 6 X1 – – – 4 –
3 0 3 0 3 51 – 2 – 3 4
3 0 0 0 6 31 – – – 4 2
3 0 0 0 6 51 – – – 4 3
X X 5 7 6 5– – 1 4 3 2
X 10 0 10 10 13– 1 – 2 3 4
X 10 0 0 10 13– 1 – – 2 4
X 10 12 0 10 13– 1 3 – 2 4
X 10 0 12 10 13– 1 – 3 2 4
X 10 12 10 10 10– 1 3 1 1 1
X 10 12 10 10 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 10 12 10 10 13– 1 3 1 1 4
15 0 15 0 15 X1 – 2 – 3 –

Gmaj7sus2

GADF#
16 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
X
2
1
O
O
O
2
3
1
O
O
3
1
4
2
O
O
2
4
3
1
O
2
2
4
1
3
1
O
2
2
4
1
3
1
O
O
2
2
4
3
1
X
X
2
4
1
3
2
O
O
X
3
1
3
2
O
O
3
1
4
2
3
O
O
3
1
3
2
4
X
X
5
1
3
4
2
X
X
7
4
1
1
1
X
O
X
10
1
3
2
X
O
10
1
4
2
3
X
10
1
3
2
1
1

Gmaj7sus2 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of G major, IV of D major, VI of B minor, III of E minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Gmaj7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 0 0 0 X 22 – – – – 1
3 0 0 0 3 22 – – – 3 1
3 0 0 2 3 23 – – 1 4 2
3 0 4 0 3 22 – 4 – 3 1
3 5 0 2 3 22 4 – 1 3 1
3 0 5 2 3 22 – 4 1 3 1
3 0 5 0 3 22 – 4 – 3 1
X X 5 2 3 2– – 4 1 3 2
3 0 4 0 3 X1 – 3 – 2 –
3 0 4 0 3 31 – 4 – 2 3
3 0 4 0 3 51 – 3 – 2 4
X X 5 7 7 5– – 1 3 4 2
X 10 7 7 7 X– 4 1 1 1 –
X 10 0 11 10 X– 1 – 3 2 –
X 10 0 11 10 10– 1 – 4 2 3
X 10 12 11 10 10– 1 3 2 1 1

G6sus4

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

G6sus4 turns up as the I, V, iv, ii chord across 6 keys: I of G major, V of C major, iv of D minor, ii of F major, III of E minor, VII of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G6sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 X 0 0 1 03 – – – 1 –
3 3 0 0 1 03 4 – – 1 –
3 3 2 0 3 02 3 1 – 4 –
3 3 0 0 5 01 1 – – 3 –
3 3 0 5 5 01 1 – 3 4 –
3 3 0 0 3 01 1 – – 2 –
3 3 0 0 5 31 1 – – 3 2
3 3 0 5 5 31 1 – 3 4 2
3 3 5 0 3 01 1 3 – 2 –
3 3 0 5 3 01 1 – 3 2 –
3 5 0 5 3 01 3 – 4 2 –
3 3 5 5 3 01 1 3 4 2 –
3 5 5 5 3 01 2 3 4 1 –
X X 5 5 3 0– – 3 4 1 –
X 10 10 7 X 0– 3 4 1 – –
X 10 10 7 8 0– 3 4 1 2 –
X 10 0 9 8 8– 3 – 2 1 1
X 10 0 0 13 0– 1 – – 4 –
15 15 12 12 13 123 4 1 1 2 1
15 15 0 0 X 01 1 – – – –

G6sus2

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

G6sus2 turns up as the I, V, IV, iv chord across 8 keys: I of G major, V of C major, IV of D major, iv of D minor, VI of B minor, ii of F major, III of E minor, VII of A minor.

Fret and finger numbers for G6sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 0 0 2 X 02 – – 1 – –
3 0 2 0 3 02 – 1 – 3 –
3 0 0 2 3 02 – – 1 3 –
3 0 2 2 3 02 – 1 1 3 –
3 0 2 0 3 32 – 1 – 3 4
3 0 2 2 3 32 – 1 1 3 4
3 0 0 0 X 01 – – – – –
3 0 0 0 3 01 – – – 2 –
3 0 0 0 5 31 – – – 3 2
3 0 5 0 3 01 – 3 – 2 –
3 0 0 0 5 01 – – – 3 –
3 0 0 0 5 51 – – – 3 4
X X 5 7 5 5– – 1 4 2 3
X 10 7 7 X 0– 4 1 1 – –
X 10 0 9 10 0– 2 – 1 3 –
X 10 0 9 10 10– 2 – 1 3 4
X 10 0 0 10 0– 1 – – 2 –
X 10 12 12 10 0– 1 3 4 2 –
X 10 12 0 10 0– 1 3 – 2 –
15 0 0 0 X 124 – – – – 1
15 0 0 12 X 04 – – 1 – –

Gm7b5

GBbC#F
11 shapes · open & play
X
X
2
3
4
1
O
3
1
2
1
3
4
3
1
2
1
1
4
1
3
1
2
1
1
3
4
3
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
5
1
2
3
4
X
8
3
1
4
1
2
X
X
8
3
1
4
2
X
O
10
1
2
3
4
X
10
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
10
1
3
2
4

Gm7b5 is the ii° and the vii° chord of F minor and G# major.

Fret and finger numbers for Gm7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 X 3 3 2 X2 – 3 4 1 –
3 4 3 0 6 61 2 1 – 3 4
3 4 3 3 6 31 2 1 1 4 1
3 4 3 3 6 61 2 1 1 3 4
3 4 5 3 6 31 2 3 1 4 1
X X 5 6 6 6– – 1 2 3 4
X 10 8 10 8 9– 3 1 4 1 2
X 10 8 10 X 9– 3 1 4 – 2
X 10 11 0 11 13– 1 2 – 3 4
X 10 11 10 11 13– 1 2 1 3 4
X 10 11 10 11 X– 1 3 2 4 –

Gm7#5

GBbEbF
7 shapes · open & play
O
X
3
1
1
2
O
3
1
1
4
2
3
1
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
5
1
4
2
3
X
10
1
4
1
2
3
X
X
10
1
4
2
3
X
X
10
1
2
3
4

Gm7#5 turns up as the i, v, vi, ii° chord across 6 keys: i of G minor, v of C minor, vi of Bb major, ii° of F minor, iii of Eb major, vii° of G# major.

Fret and finger numbers for Gm7#5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 1 1 0 X 13 1 1 – – 2
3 1 1 0 4 13 1 1 – 4 2
3 6 3 3 4 31 4 1 1 2 1
X X 5 8 6 6– – 1 4 2 3
X 10 13 10 11 11– 1 4 1 2 3
X 10 13 10 11 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 10 X 10 11 11– 1 – 2 3 4

Gdim7

GBbC#E
14 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
3
1
2
X
X
O
2
3
1
X
X
O
2
4
2
1
X
X
3
1
4
2
X
X
1
3
2
4
X
X
O
3
1
3
2
O
3
1
2
3
1
4
3
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
5
1
3
2
4
X
8
4
1
2
1
3
X
X
8
4
1
2
3
X
O
9
2
3
1
4
X
9
2
3
1
4
1
X
O
O
10
1
2
3

Gdim7 — 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 Gdim7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 1 X 0 2 03 1 – – 2 –
3 X X 3 2 02 – – 3 1 –
X X 5 3 2 0– – 4 2 1 –
3 X 2 3 2 X3 – 1 4 2 –
X X 2 3 2 3– – 1 3 2 4
3 4 X 3 X 01 3 – 2 – –
3 4 5 3 5 01 2 3 1 4 –
3 4 5 3 5 31 2 3 1 4 1
X X 5 6 5 6– – 1 3 2 4
X 10 8 9 8 9– 4 1 2 1 3
X 10 8 9 X 9– 4 1 2 – 3
X 10 11 9 11 0– 2 3 1 4 –
X 10 11 9 11 9– 2 3 1 4 1
X 10 11 0 11 0– 1 2 – 3 –

G7b9

GBDFG#
5 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
3
1
2
O
O
4
3
1
2
O
3
2
1
4
1
O
O
3
1
4
2
3
X
9
2
1
3
1
4

G7b9 — 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 G7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 X 0 1 0 13 – – 1 – 2
3 2 0 1 0 14 3 – 1 – 2
3 2 0 1 3 13 2 – 1 4 1
3 5 3 0 0 41 4 2 – – 3
X 10 9 10 9 10– 2 1 3 1 4

G7#9

GBDFBb
10 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
3
1
2
O
O
3
1
4
2
O
O
3
2
4
1
O
X
3
1
4
2
3
O
3
1
3
1
1
4
O
O
3
1
3
2
4
O
3
1
3
1
2
4
3
1
3
1
2
1
4
12
4
2
1
1
1
3
O
O
13
3
1
4
2

G7#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 G7#9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 1 0 0 0 13 1 – – – 2
3 1 0 3 0 13 1 – 4 – 2
3 2 0 3 0 13 2 – 4 – 1
3 5 3 3 0 X1 4 2 3 – –
3 5 3 3 0 61 3 1 1 – 4
3 5 3 0 0 61 3 2 – – 4
3 5 3 4 0 61 3 1 2 – 4
3 5 3 4 3 61 3 1 2 1 4
15 13 12 12 12 134 2 1 1 1 3
15 13 0 16 0 133 1 – 4 – 2

G7b5

GBC#F
16 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
3
4
1
X
O
X
3
1
2
4
O
O
X
3
1
3
2
O
O
3
1
4
2
3
3
1
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
5
1
2
3
4
X
9
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
9
3
1
4
2
X
O
O
10
1
2
4
X
O
10
1
3
2
4
X
O
X
10
1
3
2
X
O
10
1
2
3
4
X
O
10
1
2
3
4
X
X
10
1
3
2
4
X
10
1
2
1
3
4
X
O
13
4
2
3
1

G7b5 — 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 G7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 4 X 0 0 13 4 – – – 1
3 X 3 6 0 X1 – 2 4 – –
3 4 3 0 0 X1 3 2 – – –
3 4 3 0 0 31 4 2 – – 3
3 4 3 4 6 31 2 1 3 4 1
X X 5 6 6 7– – 1 2 3 4
X 10 9 10 12 9– 2 1 3 4 1
X 10 9 10 X 9– 3 1 4 – 2
X 10 11 0 0 13– 1 2 – – 4
X 10 11 10 0 13– 1 3 2 – 4
X 10 11 10 0 X– 1 3 2 – –
X 10 11 0 12 13– 1 2 – 3 4
X 10 11 12 0 13– 1 2 3 – 4
X 10 11 10 12 X– 1 3 2 4 –
X 10 11 10 12 13– 1 2 1 3 4
15 14 X 0 14 134 2 – – 3 1

Gaug7

GBEbF
11 shapes · open & play
O
O
4
3
1
2
O
O
X
3
1
4
2
O
O
3
1
4
2
3
3
1
4
1
2
3
1
X
X
5
1
4
2
3
X
X
9
2
1
3
4
X
O
X
10
1
4
2
X
O
10
1
4
2
3
X
10
1
4
1
3
2
X
X
10
1
2
4
3
X
X
O
13
3
1
2

Gaug7 — 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 Gaug7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 2 1 0 0 14 3 1 – – 2
3 6 3 0 0 X1 4 2 – – –
3 6 3 0 0 31 4 2 – – 3
3 6 3 4 4 31 4 1 2 3 1
X X 5 8 6 7– – 1 4 2 3
X 10 9 10 X 11– 2 1 3 – 4
X 10 13 10 0 X– 1 4 2 – –
X 10 13 10 0 11– 1 4 2 – 3
X 10 13 10 12 11– 1 4 1 3 2
X 10 X 10 12 11– 1 – 2 4 3
15 X 13 X 0 133 – 1 – – 2

Gaug7b9

GBEbFG#
5 shapes · open & play
O
4
3
1
1
2
3
2
1
1
4
1
O
O
3
1
4
2
3
O
3
1
4
1
2
3
X
9
2
1
3
1
4

Gaug7b9 — 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 Gaug7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 2 1 1 0 14 3 1 1 – 2
3 2 1 1 4 13 2 1 1 4 1
3 6 3 0 0 41 4 2 – – 3
3 6 3 4 0 41 4 1 2 – 3
X 10 9 10 9 11– 2 1 3 1 4

Gm7b9

GBbDFG#
5 shapes · open & play
2
1
3
1
4
1
3
1
3
1
1
1
2
3
1
3
1
1
4
2
3
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
O
10
1
3
2
4

Gm7b9 is the v and the iii chord of C minor and Eb major.

Fret and finger numbers for Gm7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
3 1 3 1 3 12 1 3 1 4 1
3 5 3 3 3 41 3 1 1 1 2
3 5 3 3 6 41 3 1 1 4 2
3 5 6 3 6 31 2 3 1 4 1
X 10 0 13 11 13– 1 – 3 2 4

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.