How to play the Asus4 chord on guitar

The Asus4 chord, pronounced A suspended fourth, is a variation of the A major chord. It's created by replacing the major third with a perfect fourth, giving the chord a more open and ambiguous sound. The Asus4 is commonly used in folk, rock, and country music to add harmonic interest and create a sense of tension before resolving back to the A major chord.

The most common way to play the Asus4 chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 2nd fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a Asus4 chord on your guitar:

1. Use your index finger to barre the 2nd fret on strings 1 through 5 (high E through A).
2. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.

Strum all six strings together to play the Asus4 chord. Make sure to apply enough pressure with your index finger to cleanly fret all five strings.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Asus4 chord, try playing an open A chord (fret the 2nd fret of the 2nd (B) string with your index finger, 2nd fret of the 3rd (G) string with your middle finger, and leave the other strings open) and add your pinky to the 3rd fret of the 1st (high E) string.

The Asus4 chord is typically played as an open chord, but learning the barre chord version can be useful for playing in different keys or adding variety to your strumming patterns.

Here's how to play an Asus4 barre chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 2nd fret, creating a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd (B) string.
5. Strum all six strings from the 5th (A) string down.

The Asus4 chord is often used to add a dreamy, nostalgic, or wistful feel to chord progressions in various genres, particularly in folk, indie, and singer-songwriter styles. Some common chord progressions featuring the Asus4 chord include:

• I - IV - Asus4 - I (D - G - Asus4 - D): Used in "Wonderwall" by Oasis
• I - V - vi - Asus4 (G - D - Em - Asus4): Used in "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman and "Riptide" by Vance Joy
• I - Asus4 - I - Asus4 (D - Asus4 - D - Asus4)
• vi - IV - Asus4 - I (Bm - G - Asus4 - D)
• I - vi - Asus4 - V (A - F#m - Asus4 - E)

To master the Asus4 chord, start by strumming the open A, D, and E strings together. Focus on getting a clear, ringing sound from each string. Practice this until you can consistently produce a clean chord.

Next, try alternating between the Asus4 and an open A chord. This will help you transition smoothly between the two chords and build muscle memory. As you become more comfortable, try incorporating the Asus4 into simple chord progressions or songs to further reinforce your skills.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Asus4 chord.

1. Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's (D, F#m, D/F#, Asus4, Bm)
2. Photograph by Ed Sheeran (E, Asus4, B, C#m)
3. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day (G, Cadd9, Asus4, Dsus2, D)
4. Wonderwall by Oasis (Em7, G, Dsus4, A7sus4, Cadd9)
5. Hotel California by Eagles (Am, E7, G, D, F, C, Dm, E7sus4)
6. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (Em, G, Em/D, Asus4, Em/B, Cmaj7, Am, Am/G, D/F#)
7. Fast Car by Tracy Chapman (C, G, Em, D, Asus4)
8. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day (Em, G, D, A, Asus4, C)
9. Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett (D, G, A, Asus4)
10. Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver (C, F, Dm, G7, Am, Asus4)