Ab suspended 2nd chord
- Ablab
- Bbtib
- Ebmib
Absus2 chord notes
Ab suspended 2nd replaces the third with the second, two semitones above the root. It sounds open and airy rather than happy or sad, and Absus2 often sits under a melody for a whole bar.
| Note | Interval from the root | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Ablab | Root1 | 0 |
| Bbtib | Major second2 | 2 |
| Ebmib | Perfect fifth5 | 7 |
Absus2 chord inversions
An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Absus2's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.
Root position
Ab, Bb, Eb
- Right hand
- 1-2-5
- Left hand
- 5-4-1
First inversion
Bb, Eb, Ab
- Right hand
- 1-2-5
- Left hand
- 5-2-1
Second inversion
Eb, Ab, Bb
- Right hand
- 1-4-5
- Left hand
- 5-2-1
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What notes are in the Absus2 chord?
Ab suspended 2nd (Absus2) is Ab, Bb, Eb. In solfège that's lab, tib, mib.
Which fingers play Absus2?
In root position, the right hand plays 1-2-5 and the left hand 5-4-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.
Is Absus2 the same as an add9 chord?
Close, but not the same. Absus2 has no third, while add9 keeps the third and adds the same note an octave higher, so add9 still sounds major.