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Ab suspended 4th chord

  1. Ablab
  2. Dbreb
  3. Ebmib
Root positionRight hand 1-4-5

Absus4 chord notes

Ab suspended 4th replaces the third with the fourth, five semitones above the root. With no third it is neither major nor minor, and it sounds like it's waiting to settle, so Absus4 usually resolves to the major chord.

NoteInterval from the rootSemitones
AblabRoot10
DbrebPerfect fourth45
EbmibPerfect fifth57
All piano chords

Absus4 chord inversions

An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Absus4's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.

  1. Root position

    Ab, Db, Eb

    Right hand
    1-4-5
    Left hand
    5-2-1

  2. First inversion

    Db, Eb, Ab

    Right hand
    1-2-5
    Left hand
    5-4-1

  3. Second inversion

    Eb, Ab, Db

    Right hand
    1-2-5
    Left hand
    5-2-1

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Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Absus4 chord?

Ab suspended 4th (Absus4) is Ab, Db, Eb. In solfège that's lab, reb, mib.

Which fingers play Absus4?

In root position, the right hand plays 1-4-5 and the left hand 5-2-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.

How do I play Absus4 into the major chord?

Keep the root and the fifth down and move only the middle note: the fourth steps down a semitone to the major third. That small move is the whole sound of Absus4 resolving.