Ebsus4 Chord
Ebsus4 holds A 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: E flat-A flat-B flat
- Symbol: Ebsus4
- Vsus4 in Ab major
- Fourth instead of third
Ebsus4
How to play an Ebsus4 chord
Notes: Eb - Ab - BbEbsus4
Root position
Eb - Ab - Bb1st inversion
Ab - Bb - Eb2nd inversion
Bb - Eb - Ab
Where does Ebsus4 belong?
The fourth takes the third's place, making Ebsus4 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.
- Delayed dominantVsus4
The fourth holds back the third for a moment before the V resolves to Ab.
AbEbsus4Vsus4EbAb - Suspension and releaseIsus4
Lift the third to the fourth and let it fall back: a classic rhythm guitar move.
EbEbsus4Isus4Eb
Progressions to try
- AbEbsus4EbAb
Hold Ebsus4 before the ordinary major chord on the same root; the suspended note then resolves into the third.
- EbEbsus4Eb
The home chord briefly becomes Ebsus4 and releases without changing the bass.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with x66896, a barre at the 6th fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The 11-11-13-13-11-11 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 1341, played at the 1st fret. The 8866 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play E flat-A flat-B flat. Move E flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, A flat-B flat-E flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
E flat is the root, A flat the fourth and B flat the fifth. There is no third in this chord.
- Root position: E flat-A flat-B flat, with E flat lowest.
- First inversion: A flat-B flat-E flat, written Ebsus4/Ab if A flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: B flat-E flat-A flat, written Ebsus4/Bb if B 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 Ebsus4 differ from Eb?
Keep E flat and B flat while A flat moves down to G. That resolves Ebsus4 into Eb; 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 Eb for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Ebsus4
Eb - Ab - BbEb
Eb - G - Bb