Piano chords · Sus4 chord
Fsus4 piano chord (F suspended fourth)
Fsus4 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.
F – B♭ – C · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Fsus4
Fsus4 is built from 3 notes (1 – 4 – 5):
- F, the root
- B♭, the fourth
- C, the fifth
B♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on F, 4 on B♭, 5 on C.
- Left hand: 5 on F, 2 on B♭, 1 on C.
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 | F – B♭ – C |
| 1st inversion | B♭ – C – F |
| 2nd inversion | C – F – B♭ |
Where Fsus4 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 F or Fm.
Fsus4 is F with its third (A) replaced by the fourth, B♭.
Hear it in a progression
Fsus4 – F – Fsus4 – F: Fsus4 resolving to F 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 Fsus4 chord?
Fsus4 (F suspended fourth) is made of F, B♭ and C: the root, fourth and fifth.
How do you play Fsus4 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on F, 4 on B♭, 5 on C, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on F, 2 on B♭, 1 on C.
How is Fsus4 different from the plain chord?
Fsus4 is F with its third (A) replaced by the fourth, B♭.