ChordKeysChord & scale reference

E♭ Suspended 2nd Chord (Ebsus2, D#sus2) on Piano

The Ebsus2 chord (Eb suspended 2nd) is built from 3 notes: Eb – F – Bb. It is also written as D#sus2.

EbFBb

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

NoteDegreeInterval from EbSemitones
Eb1root0
F2major 2nd2
Bb5perfect 5th7

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.

VoicingNotesBass note
Root positionEb – F – BbEb in the bass
1st inversionF – Bb – EbF in the bass
2nd inversionBb – Eb – FBb 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 Eb and applying that formula produces Eb, F, Bb. Learn the formula once and you can build a suspended 2nd chord on any of the twelve roots.

Keys that contain Ebsus2

Every note of Ebsus2 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.

Other chords on Eb

Suspended 2nd chords on other roots

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in a Ebsus2 chord?

A Ebsus2 chord contains the notes Eb, F, Bb. Those are the 1, 2, 5 degrees measured from the root note Eb.

How do you play Ebsus2 on piano?

Place your thumb on Eb, then add F and Bb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.

Is Ebsus2 the same as D#sus2?

Yes. Ebsus2 and D#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.