Piano chords · Sus4 chord
A♭sus4 piano chord (A♭ suspended fourth)
A♭sus4 (also written G♯sus4) is a suspended fourth chord with 3 notes. It sounds open and expectant, waiting to resolve. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
A♭ – D♭ – E♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of A♭sus4
A♭sus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- A♭, the root
- D♭, the fourth
- E♭, the fifth
Every note is a black key, so your hand sits further into the keyboard. It feels unusual at first, but black-key chords are often the most comfortable once you're used to them.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 4 on D♭, 5 on E♭.
- Left hand: 5 on A♭, 2 on D♭, 1 on E♭.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | A♭ – D♭ – E♭ |
| 1st inversion | D♭ – E♭ – A♭ |
| 2nd inversion | E♭ – A♭ – D♭ |
Where A♭sus4 belongs
A sus chord is neither major nor minor: the fourth takes the place of the third. It usually resolves, with the fourth moving to the third, to A♭ or A♭m.
A♭sus4 is A♭ with its third (C) replaced by the fourth, D♭.
Hear it in a progression
A♭sus4 – A♭ – A♭sus4 – A♭: A♭sus4 resolving to A♭ and back: the classic suspension.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♭sus4 chord?
A♭sus4 (A♭ suspended fourth) is made of A♭, D♭ and E♭: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play A♭sus4 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on A♭, 4 on D♭, 5 on E♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on A♭, 2 on D♭, 1 on E♭.
How is A♭sus4 different from the plain chord?
A♭sus4 is A♭ with its third (C) replaced by the fourth, D♭.