Esus4 chord on piano
Esus4 (E suspended 4th) is a sus4 chord built on E. It has 3 notes, E, A and B, and its formula is 1 4 5.
Notes and intervals of Esus4
From the root upwards, Esus4 contains root (E), perfect 4th (A) and perfect 5th (B). Those intervals give the chord its colour: the formula 1 4 5 works the same way in every key, so once you know it for E you can build the chord on any note.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | E |
| 4 | perfect 4th | A |
| 5 | perfect 5th | B |
How to play Esus4 on piano
Find E and play E, A and B 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 Esus4
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts another one in the bass. Esus4 has 2 inversions besides root position: 1st inversion (A B E) and 2nd inversion (B E A). Inversions let you move between chords with tiny hand movements, which is how pianists make progressions sound smooth.
Which keys use Esus4?
Esus4 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 Esus4
To improvise over Esus4, start with E major scale. All of these scales contain every note of the chord: E major scale, E natural minor scale, E harmonic minor scale, E melodic minor scale, E minor pentatonic scale, E blues scale, E Dorian mode, E Phrygian mode and E Mixolydian mode. Aim for the chord notes on strong beats and use the other notes to move between them.
About sus4 chords
The third is replaced by a perfect fourth: 1 4 5. The fourth leans on the third it replaces, so the chord sounds expectant, as if holding its breath before resolving. It is the most common sus chord, and 'sus' alone usually means sus4. For example Asus4: A D E.
The classic gesture is sus4 to major on the same root, especially on V before the cadence: Vsus4 V I. Rock riffs alternate sus4 and major in one bar, folk players decorate open chords with it, and gospel and soul use a 9sus4 voicing, often written IV/V (for example F/G), as a softer dominant.
Play 1 4 5 with fingers 1, 3 or 4, and 5. Resolve by moving the fourth down a semitone to the major third while the other notes hold. A sus4 chord has the same notes as the sus2 a fourth above (for example Csus4 C F G and Fsus2 F G C).
Do not add the third to a sus4 chord: it cancels the suspension and creates a harsh clash. A sus4 usually resolves to the major chord, though resolving to minor is possible in a minor key. And 7sus4 is not the same as 7: it keeps the ♭7 but still has no third, so it sounds softer and more open.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Esus4 chord?
Esus4 (E suspended 4th) contains E, A and B. In intervals: root (E), perfect 4th (A) and perfect 5th (B).
How do you play Esus4 on piano?
Play E, A and B 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 Esus4?
E major scale fits Esus4 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: E natural minor scale, E harmonic minor scale, E melodic minor scale, E minor pentatonic scale, E blues scale, E Dorian mode, E Phrygian mode and E Mixolydian mode.
What key is Esus4 in?
Esus4 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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