Piano chords · Sus4 chord
Asus4 piano chord (A suspended fourth)
Asus4 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 Asus4
Asus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- A, the root
- D, the fourth
- E, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Asus4 an easy chord to find and play.
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 Asus4 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 Am.
Asus4 is A with its third (C♯) replaced by the fourth, D.
Hear it in a progression
Asus4 – A – Asus4 – A: Asus4 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 Asus4 chord?
Asus4 (A suspended fourth) is made of A, D and E: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play Asus4 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 Asus4 different from the plain chord?
Asus4 is A with its third (C♯) replaced by the fourth, D.