Piano chords · Sus4 chord
B♭sus4 piano chord (B♭ suspended fourth)
B♭sus4 (also written A♯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.
B♭ – E♭ – F · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B♭sus4
B♭sus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- B♭, the root
- E♭, the fourth
- F, the fifth
B♭ and E♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 4 on E♭, 5 on F.
- Left hand: 5 on B♭, 2 on E♭, 1 on F.
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 | B♭ – E♭ – F |
| 1st inversion | E♭ – F – B♭ |
| 2nd inversion | F – B♭ – E♭ |
Where B♭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 B♭ or B♭m.
B♭sus4 is B♭ with its third (D) replaced by the fourth, E♭.
Hear it in a progression
B♭sus4 – B♭ – B♭sus4 – B♭: B♭sus4 resolving to B♭ 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 B♭sus4 chord?
B♭sus4 (B♭ suspended fourth) is made of B♭, E♭ and F: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play B♭sus4 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B♭, 4 on E♭, 5 on F, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B♭, 2 on E♭, 1 on F.
How is B♭sus4 different from the plain chord?
B♭sus4 is B♭ with its third (D) replaced by the fourth, E♭.