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Esus4 chord

Esus4 (E suspended fourth) is E, A and B. It sounds tense in a gentle way: the fourth wants to fall to the third.

Esus4

E suspended fourth · E A B · 1 4 5

EAB

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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 Esus4 chord

From E, count 5 half steps up to A and 2 more to B. Its formula is 1 4 5: each number is the note’s place in the E major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is all white keys.

The notes of Esus4 and their intervals from E
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
E1Root0
A4Perfect fourth5
B5Perfect fifth7

Esus4 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

E A B

Written Esus4, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

A B E

Written Esus4/A: A at the bottom.

2nd inversion

B E A

Written Esus4/B: B at the bottom.

Keys with the Esus4 chord

Esus4 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 Esus4

EE G♯ BEsus4 settles to E: the fourth falls to the third, as most sus4 chords do.E7E G♯ B DEsus4 to E7: the same resolve with a seventh, the end of many soul and gospel phrases.AA C♯ EAs the V chord, Esus4 pulls home to A.

More piano chords

Other chords on E

EEmE7Emaj7Em7Esus2Eadd9E9E6EdimEm7♭5Edim7Eaug

Suspended fourth chords on other notes

Csus4C♯sus4Dsus4E♭sus4Fsus4F♯sus4Gsus4A♭sus4Asus4B♭sus4Bsus4

Or see every chord at once on the piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Esus4 chord?

Esus4 is E, A and B. On the piano that is all white keys.

How do you play Esus4 on the piano?

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

What are the inversions of Esus4?

Root position: E A B. 1st inversion: A B E (Esus4/A). 2nd inversion: B E A (Esus4/B). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is Esus4 in?

In major keys, Esus4 is the Isus4 chord in E major, the Vsus4 chord in A major and the VIsus4 chord in G major. In minor keys, it is the Isus4 chord in E minor, the IVsus4 chord in B minor and the Vsus4 chord in A minor.

Can I make a beat with Esus4?

Yes. “Make a beat in E major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E major on E B C♯m A, the key where Esus4 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 E major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E major on E B C♯m A, the key where Esus4 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 E majorAll piano chords

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