Dsus4 (Dsus4)

D major with the high E moved up to the 3rd fret: the fourth creates a little tension that falls back to D.

It’s played in open position, near the nut, and as a barre chord higher up the neck. It’s mostly used to add movement to D major, which it resolves to.

Notes:: D, G, A.
Formula:: 1, 4, 5.
Difficulty:: Beginner.
Strings played:: 4 (from the D string).

Chord diagram

e|--3--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

Other positions

e|--5--|
B|--8--|
G|--7--|
D|--7--|
A|--5--|
E|--x--|

e|--10--|
B|--10--|
G|--12--|
D|--12--|
A|--12--|
E|--10--|

Common mistakes

Fingers getting in each other’s way? Index at the 2nd fret on the G string, middle and ring at the 3rd fret on the B and high E strings.

Sounds muddy? Don’t strum the low E or A string: start on the D string.

Variations

D and Dsus2: Dsus4 resolves to D and alternates with Dsus2.

e|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

e|--0--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

Heard in

Wonderwall (Oasis) uses Dsus4, capo at the 2nd fret. D, Dsus4, D: the classic folk flourish.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around Dsus4.

e|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

D majorresolution

e|--3--|
B|--0--|
G|--0--|
D|--0--|
A|--2--|
E|--3--|

G majorIV

e|--0--|
B|--2--|
G|--2--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|--x--|

A majorV