Piano chords · Sus2 chord
E♭sus2 piano chord (E♭ suspended second)
E♭sus2 (also written D♯sus2) is a suspended second chord with 3 notes. It sounds open and airy, neither major nor minor. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
E♭ – F – B♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of E♭sus2
E♭sus2 is built from 3 notes (1 – 2 – 5):
- E♭, the root
- F, the second
- B♭, the fifth
E♭ and B♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on E♭, 2 on F, 5 on B♭.
- Left hand: 5 on E♭, 4 on F, 1 on B♭.
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 | E♭ – F – B♭ |
| 1st inversion | F – B♭ – E♭ |
| 2nd inversion | B♭ – E♭ – F |
Where E♭sus2 belongs
A sus chord is neither major nor minor: the second takes the place of the third. It usually resolves, with the second moving to the third, to E♭ or E♭m.
E♭sus2 is E♭ with its third (G) replaced by the second, F.
Hear it in a progression
E♭sus2 – E♭ – E♭sus2 – E♭: E♭sus2 resolving to E♭ 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 E♭sus2 chord?
E♭sus2 (E♭ suspended second) is made of E♭, F and B♭: the root, second and fifth.
How do you play E♭sus2 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on E♭, 2 on F, 5 on B♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on E♭, 4 on F, 1 on B♭.
How is E♭sus2 different from the plain chord?
E♭sus2 is E♭ with its third (G) replaced by the second, F.