How to Play Absus4 on Piano

The Ab Suspended 4th chord sounds expectant. It stacks 3 notes: Ab – Db – Eb.

The third is replaced by a fourth, a semitone above where the third would sit. It traditionally resolves downward onto the missing third.

Notes in Absus4

NoteIntervalFinger
AbAb4Root1
DbDb5Perfect 4th3
EbEb5Perfect 5th5

How to Play

Right Hand

Place your thumb (finger 1) on Ab. Use finger 3 on Db and finger 5 on Eb.

Where it sits

Every note of this chord is a black key, so the whole shape sits back from the front edge of the keyboard.

Press all 3 keys at the same time. Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved. The blue dots on the piano below show exactly which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Other Suspended 4th Chords

Csus4
C – F – G
Dbsus4
Db – Gb – Ab
Dsus4
D – G – A
Ebsus4
Eb – Ab – Bb
Esus4
E – A – B
Fsus4
F – Bb – C
F#sus4
F# – B – C#
Gsus4
G – C – D
Asus4
A – D – E
Bbsus4
Bb – Eb – F
Bsus4
B – E – F#

Other Ab Chords

Ab6
Ab – C – Eb – F
Ab7
Ab – C – Eb – Gb
Ab9
Ab – C – Eb – Gb – Bb
Ab
Ab – C – Eb
Abmaj7
Ab – C – Eb – G
Abaug
Ab – C – E
Absus2
Ab – Bb – Eb
Abadd9
Ab – C – Eb – Bb