Root position E♭sus4
E♭ – A♭ – B♭
Right hand 1-4-5Left hand 5-2-1
E♭sus4 Chord on Piano
E♭sus4 E♭ A♭ B♭ Formula 1 4 5 3 notes
Also written D♯ sus4: the same keys under another name.
Notes
What notes are in the E♭sus4 chord?
The E♭sus4 chord has 3 notes: E♭, A♭, B♭. No third: the fourth (5 half steps above E♭) replaces it and usually resolves down to the third.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | Root | 0 |
| A♭ | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| B♭ | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play E♭sus4
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion E♭sus4/A♭
A♭ – B♭ – E♭
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
The piano studio names these keys A♭sus2: the same notes, read from another root.
2nd inversion E♭sus4/B♭
B♭ – E♭ – A♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-4-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with E♭sus4
Every key where E♭sus4 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
E♭sus4 is not a diatonic chord of any major or natural minor key.
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the E♭sus4 chord?
The E♭sus4 chord (E♭sus4) is made of E♭, A♭, B♭. Its formula is 1 4 5 - the root, then the intervals of a suspended 4th chord.
How do you play E♭sus4 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on E♭ and play the other notes with fingers 1-4-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-2-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of E♭sus4?
root position E♭sus4 (E♭ A♭ B♭); 1st inversion E♭sus4/A♭ (A♭ B♭ E♭); 2nd inversion E♭sus4/B♭ (B♭ E♭ A♭).
Is E♭sus4 the same as D♯ sus4?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold E♭sus4 and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.