Asus4 Chord on Ukulele
Asus4 = A – D – E (Root, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th)
Asus4 raises A major's third up a half-step further than sus2 does in the other direction, replacing C# with D — a perfect fourth above the root. On ukulele the shape is compact: index finger on the C string's second fret, middle finger on the G string's second fret, with the E and A strings left open. Both fretted notes land on the same fret number, two frets up, which makes the shape easy to visualize as a simple two-finger bar-like pairing even though no actual barre is involved.
Sus4 chords carry a stronger, more insistent pull toward resolution than sus2 does, because a perfect fourth sitting a half-step above the major third wants, almost audibly, to fall back down into that third — it's the more classic-sounding of the two suspensions, familiar from decades of rock and pop guitar work carried over faithfully onto ukulele. As the I chord's suspended variant in the key of A, Asus4 shows up as a pickup or a held beat right before a verse or chorus resolves onto plain A major, the D note stepping down to C# exactly on the beat where the listener expects resolution. It also appears as the IV chord's suspension in the key of E, a spot where a brief sus4-to-major move on the subdominant adds a small lift without disrupting the song's overall harmonic pace.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Since both fingers land on the same fret, the main risk is accidentally barring across the D and G strings with a flattened finger instead of keeping two independent fingertips — press down with the pads of the index and middle fingers separately, checking each string rings on its own. The signature move to drill is Asus4 resolving into A major: keep the middle finger anchored on the G string's second fret while sliding the index finger down one fret, from the C string's second fret to its first fret. That single-finger drop is the entire sus4-to-major resolution, and getting it to land exactly on a strum's downbeat is what makes the suspension read as intentional rather than like a fumbled chord change.
Common Progressions
- Isus4 – I, the classic hold-and-release (Asus4 – A)
- IV – IVsus4 – IV (D – Dsus4 – D)
- I – IV – Vsus4 – V (A – D – Esus4 – E)
- vi – Isus4 – I (F#m – Asus4 – A)
FAQ
- What note does sus4 change in A major?
- The third, C#, is raised a half-step to D, a perfect fourth above the root, which is why the shape feels like it's straining to resolve downward.
- Why does sus4 feel more urgent than sus2?
- A fourth sitting just a half-step above the major third has a strong pull to fall back into that third, giving sus4 a more classic, tension-and-release quality than sus2's more open, ambiguous color.
- What's the easiest way to practice the Asus4-to-A resolution?
- Hold the middle finger steady on the G string's second fret and drop the index finger one fret, from the C string's second fret to its first, timing the move to land exactly on the beat.
- Is Asus4 common outside the key of A?
- Yes — it also appears as a brief suspension on the IV chord in the key of E, and generally anywhere a I or IV chord benefits from a held beat of tension before resolving.
Asus4 on other instruments: Asus4 on Guitar, Asus4 on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.