E♭sus2 chord on guitar
The E♭sus2 chord, or E flat suspended 2nd, stacks 3 notes on E♭: E♭, F and B♭. Musicians write its formula 1 2 5.
Notes and intervals of E♭sus2
Each note of E♭sus2 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (E♭), major 2nd (F) and perfect 5th (B♭). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 2 5 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | E♭ |
| 2 | major 2nd | F |
| 5 | perfect 5th | B♭ |
How to play E♭sus2 on guitar
Start with the first diagram: 1 1 1 3 4 1, read from the 6th string (low E) to the 1st string (high E). Your lowest note is F. The next positions give the same notes in a different order, which is useful when you want E♭sus2 to sit closer to the surrounding chords.
This is a barre or movable shape: keep your index finger straight and close to the fret, and press with the side of the finger rather than the flat pad.
Which keys use E♭sus2?
E♭sus2 is not built from the notes of a single major key, so it usually appears as a colour chord: a borrowed chord, a passing chord or a suspension that resolves to the next chord.
Scales to play over E♭sus2
These scales share every note of E♭sus2: E flat major scale, E flat natural minor scale, E flat harmonic minor scale, E flat melodic minor scale, E flat major pentatonic scale, E flat Dorian mode, E flat Lydian mode and E flat Mixolydian mode. E flat major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About sus2 chords
The third is replaced by a major second: 1 2 5. With no third the chord is neither major nor minor, so it sounds open, airy and slightly unresolved. That shimmering, modern colour is a staple of pop, worship and ambient guitar, where it rings beautifully with open strings. For example Dsus2: D E A.
Use it as a colour on I, IV or V in place of the plain triad, or as a decoration that returns to the triad on the same root (for example D Dsus2 D). Pop and worship songs build whole progressions on sus2 chords. Like every sus chord, it can resolve to major or minor, so it fits both modes.
The classic open shapes are Dsus2 (xx0230) and Asus2 (x02200). The movable one is the A-shape barre with the third replaced by the second on the 2nd string: the index stays on the barre (for example Bsus2 x24422). Another trick: play a power chord and add the second two frets above the root on the next string.
sus2 is not add9: sus2 has no third, add9 keeps the third and adds the 9th (1 3 5 9). The note names are the same, but the presence of the third changes everything. Also, 'sus' alone usually means sus4, not sus2. And do not expect sus2 to pull as strongly as sus4: it often just rings, without resolving.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E♭sus2 chord?
E♭sus2 (E flat suspended 2nd) contains E♭, F and B♭. In intervals: root (E♭), major 2nd (F) and perfect 5th (B♭).
How do you play E♭sus2 on guitar?
The easiest shape is 1 1 1 3 4 1, from the low E string to the high E string. This page shows 3 positions with finger numbers.
What scale goes with E♭sus2?
E flat major scale fits E♭sus2 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: E flat natural minor scale, E flat harmonic minor scale, E flat melodic minor scale, E flat major pentatonic scale, E flat Dorian mode, E flat Lydian mode and E flat Mixolydian mode.
What key is E♭sus2 in?
E♭sus2 does not belong to a single major key. It is used as a colour chord that borrows notes from outside the key.
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