E♭ suspended 4th chord on piano
E♭sus4 is a suspended 4th chord built on E♭. It uses the notes E♭ - A♭ - B♭ and sounds unresolved; it usually settles back to the major chord. It is also written as D♯ suspended 4th.
- Notes
- E♭ A♭ B♭
- Formula
- 1 - 4 - 5
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 1
- Chord symbol
- E♭sus4
How to play E♭sus4 step by step
- Find E♭. E♭ is the second black key in each group of two. The same key is also called D♯.
- Add A♭, 5 half steps above E♭.
- Add B♭, 7 half steps above E♭.
- 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.
E♭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 E♭ suspended 4th chord?
The E♭ suspended 4th chord (E♭sus4) contains 3 notes: E♭, A♭, B♭. Its formula is 1 - 4 - 5.
How do you play E♭sus4 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on E♭ and play E♭, A♭, B♭ together using fingers 1 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 1.
Is E♭ suspended 4th the same as D♯ suspended 4th?
Yes. E♭ suspended 4th and D♯ suspended 4th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.