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B♭sus4 chord on guitar

B♭sus4 (B♭ suspended fourth) is B♭, E♭ and F. It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 1st fret, written x13341. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 3rd fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 4th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

B♭sus4

B♭ suspended fourth · B♭ E♭ F · 1 4 5

  • 1st fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    12341B♭FB♭E♭F

    x13341

  • 6th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    6fr123411B♭FB♭E♭FB♭

    688866

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 B♭, the root.

How to play B♭sus4

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 5th string · 1st fret

    x13341
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 1st fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 3rd fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 4th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

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

    688866
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 6th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 8th fret.

Notes in the B♭sus4 chord

B♭sus4 is B♭, E♭ and F, and it sounds tense in a gentle way: the fourth wants to fall to the third. From B♭, count 5 half steps up to E♭ and 2 more to F. Its formula is 1 4 5. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with B♭ lowest. It is also written A♯sus4 (A♯ D♯ E♯): the same frets. See its inversions and keys on the B♭sus4 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after B♭sus4

B♭x13331B♭sus4 settles to B♭: the fourth falls to the third, as most sus4 chords do.B♭7x13131B♭sus4 to B♭7: the same resolve with a seventh, the end of many soul and gospel phrases.E♭x68886As the V chord, B♭sus4 pulls home to E♭.

More guitar chords

Other chords on B♭

B♭B♭mB♭7B♭maj7B♭m7B♭sus2B♭add9B♭9B♭6A♯dimA♯m7♭5A♯dim7B♭aug

Suspended fourth chords on other notes

Csus4C♯sus4Dsus4E♭sus4Esus4Fsus4F♯sus4Gsus4A♭sus4Asus4Bsus4

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play B♭sus4 on guitar?

It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 1st fret, written x13341. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 3rd fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 3rd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 4th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the B♭sus4 chord?

B♭sus4 is B♭, E♭ and F. In the shape written x13341, the 5th to 1st strings play B♭, F, B♭, E♭ and F.

Is B♭sus4 a barre chord?

Usually, yes: it has no open shape. The barre at the 1st fret (x13341) is the one most players use; the same shape moved to another fret plays another root.

How many ways can you play B♭sus4 on guitar?

This page shows two: x13341 (1st fret) and 688866 (6th 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 B♭sus4?

Yes. “Make a beat in B♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where B♭sus4 is the Isus4 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in B♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where B♭sus4 is the Isus4 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in B♭ majorAll guitar chords

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