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Absus4 Chord

Absus4 holds D flat, the fourth, where a major chord would use its third. Letting that fourth move to the third is the small release to listen for.

  • Notes: A flat-D flat-E flat
  • Symbol: Absus4
  • Vsus4 in Db major
  • Fourth instead of third
Switch chordAbsus4

How to play an Absus4 chord

Notes: Ab - Db - Eb · symbol Absus4

  • Root position

    Ab - Db - Eb
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    Db - Eb - Ab
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    Eb - Ab - Db
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does Absus4 belong?

The fourth takes the third's place, making Absus4 useful as a brief delay before the major chord.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In Db majorDelayed dominant
    Vsus4

    The fourth holds back the third for a moment before the V resolves to Db.

    DbIAbsus4Vsus4AbVDbI
  • In Ab majorSuspension and release
    Isus4

    Lift the third to the fourth and let it fall back: a classic rhythm guitar move.

    AbIAbsus4Isus4AbI

Progressions to try

  • DbAbsus4AbDb

    Hold Absus4 before the ordinary major chord on the same root; the suspended note then resolves into the third.

  • AbAbsus4Ab

    The home chord briefly becomes Absus4 and releases without changing the bass.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with 446644, a barre at the 4th fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The x-11-11-13-14-11 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.

On ukulele, start with 1344, played at the 1st fret. The 6896 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play A flat-D flat-E flat. Move A flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, D flat-E flat-A flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

A flat is the root, D flat the fourth and E flat the fifth. There is no third in this chord.

  • Root position: A flat-D flat-E flat, with A flat lowest.
  • First inversion: D flat-E flat-A flat, written Absus4/Db if D flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: E flat-A flat-D flat, written Absus4/Eb if E flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Absus4 differ from Ab?

Keep A flat and E flat while D flat moves down to C. That resolves Absus4 into Ab; the root and fifth never moved. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Ab for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Absus4

    Ab - Db - Eb
    C4

    Ab sus4

  • Ab

    Ab - C - Eb
    C4

    Ab major

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