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A♭sus2 chord

A♭sus2 (A♭ suspended second) is A♭, B♭ and E♭. It sounds open and airy, neither major nor minor. Also written G♯sus2 (G♯ A♯ D♯): the same keys.

A♭sus2

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

A♭B♭E♭

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Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the A♭sus2 chord

From A♭, count 2 half steps up to B♭ and 5 more to E♭. Its formula is 1 2 5: each number is the note’s place in the A♭ major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is all black keys.

The notes of A♭sus2 and their intervals from A♭
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
A♭1Root0
B♭2Major second2
E♭5Perfect fifth7

A♭sus2 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

A♭ B♭ E♭

Written A♭sus2, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

B♭ E♭ A♭

Written A♭sus2/B♭: B♭ at the bottom.

2nd inversion

E♭ A♭ B♭

Written A♭sus2/E♭: E♭ at the bottom.

Keys with the A♭sus2 chord

A♭sus2 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Chords that often come after A♭sus2

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

More piano 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 piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭sus2 chord?

A♭sus2 is A♭, B♭ and E♭. On the piano that is all black keys.

How do you play A♭sus2 on the piano?

With your right hand, put your thumb (1) on A♭, your middle finger (3) on B♭ and your little finger (5) on E♭. With your left hand it is 5, 3 and 1 on the same notes. From A♭, count 2 half steps up to B♭ and 5 more to E♭.

What are the inversions of A♭sus2?

Root position: A♭ B♭ E♭. 1st inversion: B♭ E♭ A♭ (A♭sus2/B♭). 2nd inversion: E♭ A♭ B♭ (A♭sus2/E♭). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is A♭sus2 in?

In major keys, A♭sus2 is the Isus2 chord in A♭ major, the Vsus2 chord in D♭ major and the IVsus2 chord in E♭ major. In minor keys, it is the Isus2 chord in G♯ minor (written G♯sus2), the IVsus2 chord in D♯ minor (written G♯sus2) and the VIsus2 chord in C minor.

Is A♭sus2 the same as G♯sus2?

On the piano, yes: the same keys. A♭sus2 (A♭ B♭ E♭) is how it is usually written; as G♯sus2 it is G♯ A♯ D♯.

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 piano chords

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