B♭ suspended 4th chord on piano
B♭sus4 is a suspended 4th chord built on B♭. It uses the notes B♭ - E♭ - F and sounds unresolved; it usually settles back to the major chord. It is also written as A♯ suspended 4th.
- Notes
- B♭ E♭ F
- Formula
- 1 - 4 - 5
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 1
- Chord symbol
- B♭sus4
How to play B♭sus4 step by step
- Find B♭. B♭ is the last black key in each group of three. The same key is also called A♯.
- Add E♭, 5 half steps above B♭.
- Add F, 7 half steps above B♭.
- Press all 3 keys together with fingers 1 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
B♭sus4 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭ suspended 4th chord?
The B♭ suspended 4th chord (B♭sus4) contains 3 notes: B♭, E♭, F. Its formula is 1 - 4 - 5.
How do you play B♭sus4 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on B♭ and play B♭, E♭, F together using fingers 1 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 1.
Is B♭ suspended 4th the same as A♯ suspended 4th?
Yes. B♭ suspended 4th and A♯ suspended 4th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.