A♭ Suspended 4th Chord (Absus4, G#sus4) on Piano
The Absus4 chord (Ab suspended 4th) is built from 3 notes: Ab – Db – Eb. It is also written as G#sus4.
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 |
| Db | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| 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 – Db – Eb | Ab in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Db – Eb – Ab | Db in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Eb – Ab – Db | Eb in the bass |
How the suspended 4th chord is built
Every suspended 4th chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 4 (5 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on Ab and applying that formula produces Ab, Db, Eb. Learn the formula once and you can build a suspended 4th chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Absus4
Every note of Absus4 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Ab
Suspended 4th chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Absus4 chord?
A Absus4 chord contains the notes Ab, Db, Eb. Those are the 1, 4, 5 degrees measured from the root note Ab.
How do you play Absus4 on piano?
Place your thumb on Ab, then add Db and Eb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Absus4 the same as G#sus4?
Yes. Absus4 and G#sus4 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.