A♭sus2 chord on piano
A♭sus2 (A flat suspended 2nd) is a sus2 chord built on A♭. It has 3 notes, A♭, B♭ and E♭, and its formula is 1 2 5.
Notes and intervals of A♭sus2
From the root upwards, A♭sus2 contains root (A♭), major 2nd (B♭) and perfect 5th (E♭). Those intervals give the chord its colour: the formula 1 2 5 works the same way in every key, so once you know it for A♭ you can build the chord on any note.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | A♭ |
| 2 | major 2nd | B♭ |
| 5 | perfect 5th | E♭ |
How to play A♭sus2 on piano
Find A♭ and play A♭, B♭ and E♭ together. With the right hand, a common fingering is 1-3-5. With the left hand, reverse it (5-3-1). Keep your wrist level and let the fingers curve, so all 3 keys go down at the same time.
Inversions of A♭sus2
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. A♭sus2 has 2 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (B♭ E♭ A♭) and 2nd inversion (E♭ A♭ B♭). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use A♭sus2?
A♭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 A♭sus2
To improvise over A♭sus2, start with A flat major scale. All of these scales contain every note of the chord: A flat major scale, A flat natural minor scale, A flat harmonic minor scale, A flat melodic minor scale, A flat major pentatonic scale, A flat Dorian mode, A flat Lydian mode and A flat Mixolydian mode. Aim for the chord notes on strong beats and use the other notes to move between them.
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.
Play 1 2 5 with fingers 1 2 5, or spread it: left hand root and fifth, right hand 2, 5 and octave. Wide voicings sound best; a close root-and-second cluster low on the keyboard turns muddy. A sus2 chord has the same notes as the sus4 a fifth above (for example Csus2 C D G and Gsus4 G C D).
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 A♭sus2 chord?
A♭sus2 (A flat suspended 2nd) contains A♭, B♭ and E♭. In intervals: root (A♭), major 2nd (B♭) and perfect 5th (E♭).
How do you play A♭sus2 on piano?
Play A♭, B♭ and E♭ together with the right-hand fingering 1-3-5. You can also play it in 2 inversions, shown on this page.
What scale goes with A♭sus2?
A flat major scale fits A♭sus2 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: A flat natural minor scale, A flat harmonic minor scale, A flat melodic minor scale, A flat major pentatonic scale, A flat Dorian mode, A flat Lydian mode and A flat Mixolydian mode.
What key is A♭sus2 in?
A♭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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