E flat suspended fourth chord (Ebsus4) on piano
The E flat suspended fourth chord (Ebsus4) on piano has 3 notes: E flat, A flat, and B flat (E♭, A♭, B♭). On the keyboard below, the root (E flat) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.
- Notes
- E♭A♭B♭
- Formula
- 145
How to play Ebsus4 on piano
Root position · From low to high: E♭ A♭ B♭
The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.
Ebsus4 chord inversions
Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.
-
1st inversion (Ebsus4/Ab)
Ebsus4/Ab: A flat (4) in the bass
From low to high: A♭ B♭ E♭
-
2nd inversion (Ebsus4/Bb)
Ebsus4/Bb: B flat (5) in the bass
From low to high: B♭ E♭ A♭
Notes and intervals of Ebsus4
Ebsus4 (E flat suspended fourth) is built from 3 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- E♭ · 1 · root
- A♭ · 4 · perfect fourth
- B♭ · 5 · perfect fifth
About the suspended fourth chord
Swaps the third for the fourth, which wants to fall back to the third: a hanging sound that begs for resolution (Dsus4 → D). A classic at the end of phrases, in 70s rock and in guitar fills in pop and country.
Other E flat chords
- Eb
- Ebm
- Eb7
- Eb7M
- Ebm7
- Ebm7(b5)
- Eb°
- Eb°7
- Eb+
- Ebsus2
- Ebsus4
- Eb7sus4
- Eb5
- Ebadd9
- Eb6
- Ebm6
- Eb9
- Ebm(add9)
- Ebm9
- Eb7M(9)
- Ebm(7M)
- Eb7M(#5)
- Eb7(b9)
- Eb6(9)
- Ebm6(9)
- Eb11
- Ebm11
- Eb13
- Ebm13
- Eb7(#9)
- Eb7(#11)
- Eb7(b13)
- Eb7(#5)
- Eb7M(#11)
- Eb9sus4
Suspended fourth: other roots
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the Ebsus4 chord on piano?
Ebsus4 (E flat suspended fourth) has the notes E♭, A♭, B♭. The formula is 1 · 4 · 5: root, perfect fourth, perfect fifth.
How do you play Ebsus4 on piano?
Find the E flat key and add the other notes above it: E♭, A♭, B♭. Play them all together.
What are the inversions of Ebsus4?
1st inversion (Ebsus4/Ab): A♭ B♭ E♭; 2nd inversion (Ebsus4/Bb): B♭ E♭ A♭.
What does Ebsus4 mean?
Ebsus4 is the chord symbol for E flat suspended fourth. Swaps the third for the fourth, which wants to fall back to the third: a hanging sound that begs for resolution (Dsus4 → D). A classic at the end of phrases, in 70s rock and in guitar fills in pop and country.
Is the Ebsus4 chord the same on piano and keyboard?
Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.