Piano chords · Sus4 chord
Bsus4 piano chord (B suspended fourth)
Bsus4 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 Bsus4
Bsus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- B, the root
- E, the fourth
- F♯, the fifth
F♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it 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 Bsus4 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 Bm.
Bsus4 is B with its third (D♯) replaced by the fourth, E.
Hear it in a progression
Bsus4 – B – Bsus4 – B: Bsus4 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 Bsus4 chord?
Bsus4 (B suspended fourth) is made of B, E and F♯: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play Bsus4 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 Bsus4 different from the plain chord?
Bsus4 is B with its third (D♯) replaced by the fourth, E.