A♭ Suspended 2nd Chord (Absus2, G#sus2) on Piano
The Absus2 chord (Ab suspended 2nd) is built from 3 notes: Ab – Bb – Eb. It is also written as G#sus2.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Ab | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | 1 | root | 0 |
| Bb | 2 | major 2nd | 2 |
| Eb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Ab – Bb – Eb | Ab in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Bb – Eb – Ab | Bb in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Eb – Ab – Bb | Eb in the bass |
How the suspended 2nd chord is built
Every suspended 2nd chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 2 (2 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on Ab and applying that formula produces Ab, Bb, Eb. Learn the formula once and you can build a suspended 2nd chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Absus2
Every note of Absus2 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Ab
Suspended 2nd chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Absus2 chord?
A Absus2 chord contains the notes Ab, Bb, Eb. Those are the 1, 2, 5 degrees measured from the root note Ab.
How do you play Absus2 on piano?
Place your thumb on Ab, then add Bb and Eb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Absus2 the same as G#sus2?
Yes. Absus2 and G#sus2 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.