Eb suspended 4th chord

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

Ebsus4 chord notes

Eb 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 Ebsus4 usually resolves to the major chord.

NoteInterval from the rootSemitones
EbmibRoot10
AblabPerfect fourth45
BbtibPerfect fifth57
All piano chords

Ebsus4 chord inversions

An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Ebsus4's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.

  1. Root position

    Eb, Ab, Bb

    Right hand
    1-4-5
    Left hand
    5-2-1
  2. First inversion

    Ab, Bb, Eb

    Right hand
    1-2-5
    Left hand
    5-4-1
  3. Second inversion

    Bb, Eb, Ab

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

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Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Ebsus4 chord?

Eb suspended 4th (Ebsus4) is Eb, Ab, Bb. In solfège that's mib, lab, tib.

Which fingers play Ebsus4?

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 Ebsus4 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 Ebsus4 resolving.