G# Suspended Fourth Ukulele Arpeggio
Ukulele arpeggio — fretboard diagram
G# Suspended Fourth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: G#, C#, D#
Intervals: 1P, 4P, 5P
Formula: 5-W
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: sus4, sus
The G# Suspended Fourth arpeggio contains 3 notes (G#, C#, D#). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each arpeggio shape and pattern on Ukulele. Practice ascending and descending from the root note across all strings to learn the sound of this arpeggio.
When to Use the G# Suspended Fourth Arpeggio
Play the G# Suspended Fourth arpeggio whenever a G# Suspended Fourth chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The G# Suspended Fourth arpeggio uses 3 notes (G#, C#, D#) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play G# Suspended Fourth Arpeggio on Ukulele
On ukulele, find G# around the open strings and play through the arpeggio tones (G#, C#, D#). With 3 notes, this arpeggio fits within a single chord shape on the ukulele. Try picking through the G# Suspended Fourth chord form to hear the arpeggio in context.
The G# Suspended Fourth arpeggio avoids the third, creating an open, unresolved sound. It works over G#sus4, G#sus2, G#7sus4 voicings and is perfect for creating a modern, ambiguous harmonic feel that neither commits to major nor minor.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Start by playing the G# Suspended Fourth arpeggio ascending and descending at 60 BPM, one note per beat, using a metronome. Once even and confident, play it in eighth notes, then triplets, keeping each note articulate. Spend at least 5 minutes daily on this before moving to musical application.
Ukulele Tips
The ukulele's re-entrant tuning creates natural voice leading within the G# Suspended Fourth arpeggio. Experiment with picking patterns that take advantage of the high G string to create unexpected interval leaps within the arpeggio shape.
Related Resources
- Harmonize G# Suspended Fourth
- Browse Chord Progressions
- Interactive Circle of Fifths
- G# Suspended Fourth on Guitar
- G# Suspended Fourth on Bass