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A♭sus2 chord on guitar

A♭sus2 (A♭ suspended second) is A♭, B♭ and E♭. It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 6th fret, written xx6896. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 1st strings at the 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 8th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 9th fret. Don't play the 6th and 5th strings: strum from the 4th.

A♭sus2

A♭ suspended second · A♭ B♭ E♭ · 1 2 5

  • 6th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 4th string

    6fr1341A♭E♭A♭B♭

    xx6896

  • 11th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    11fr13411A♭E♭A♭B♭E♭

    x-11-13-13-11-11

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are A♭, the root.

How to play A♭sus2

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Barre chord, root on the 4th string · 6th fret

    xx6896
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 1st strings at the 6th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 9th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th and 5th strings: strum from the 4th.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 5th string · 11th fret

    x-11-13-13-11-11
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 11th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 13th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the A♭sus2 chord

A♭sus2 is A♭, B♭ and E♭, and it sounds open and airy, neither major nor minor. From A♭, count 2 half steps up to B♭ and 5 more to E♭. Its formula is 1 2 5. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with A♭ lowest. It is also written G♯sus2 (G♯ A♯ D♯): the same frets. See its inversions and keys on the A♭sus2 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after A♭sus2

A♭466544A♭sus2 opens up to A♭: the second rises to the third.D♭x46664A♭sus2 to D♭ is I to IV with the same open sound on top.E♭x68886A♭sus2 to E♭ is I to V, a staple of piano pop.

More guitar chords

Other chords on A♭

A♭G♯mA♭7A♭maj7G♯m7A♭sus4A♭add9A♭9A♭6G♯dimG♯m7♭5G♯dim7A♭aug

Suspended second chords on other notes

Csus2C♯sus2Dsus2E♭sus2Esus2Fsus2F♯sus2Gsus2Asus2B♭sus2Bsus2

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play A♭sus2 on guitar?

It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 6th fret, written xx6896. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 1st strings at the 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 8th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 9th fret. Don't play the 6th and 5th strings: strum from the 4th.

What notes are in the A♭sus2 chord?

A♭sus2 is A♭, B♭ and E♭. In the shape written xx6896, the 4th to 1st strings play A♭, E♭, A♭ and B♭.

Is A♭sus2 a barre chord?

Usually, yes: it has no open shape. The barre at the 6th fret (xx6896) is the one most players use; the same shape moved to another fret plays another root.

How many ways can you play A♭sus2 on guitar?

This page shows two: xx6896 (6th fret) and x-11-13-13-11-11 (11th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with A♭sus2?

Yes. “Make a beat in A♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A♭ major on A♭ E♭ Fm D♭, the key where A♭sus2 is the Isus2 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in A♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in A♭ major on A♭ E♭ Fm D♭, the key where A♭sus2 is the Isus2 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in A♭ majorAll guitar chords

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