Piano chord
A♭7sus4A flat seventh suspended fourth
- A♭1
- D♭4
- E♭5
- G♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play A♭7sus4 on piano
- Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 3 on D♭, 4 on E♭, 5 on G♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 3 on D♭, 2 on E♭, 1 on G♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭
1st inversion · D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭
2nd inversion · E♭ – G♭ – A♭ – D♭
3rd inversion · G♭ – A♭ – D♭ – E♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
A♭7sus4 inversions
A♭7sus4 can be played in 4 positions. In root position A♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: A♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: D♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: G♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
A♭7sus4 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–D♭–E♭–G♭.
A♭7sus4 on other instruments
About the A♭7sus4 chord
A flat seventh suspended fourth has 4 notes: A♭ (1), D♭ (4), E♭ (5), G♭ (♭7). A seventh with a suspended fourth: the dominant seventh without its third, the fourth in its place. Used before the plain seventh chord or as a softer dominant.
On the keyboard, start from A♭ and add the other notes above it: A♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so A♭7sus4 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of A♭7sus4 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–E♭–G♭–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–G♭–A♭–D♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G♭ (G♭–A♭–D♭–E♭).
A♭7sus4 is A♭sus4 with one note added: G♭.
Questions
What notes are in the A♭7sus4 chord?
A♭7sus4 (A flat seventh suspended fourth) has 4 notes: A♭ (1), D♭ (4), E♭ (5), G♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does A♭7sus4 have?
A♭7sus4 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (A♭–D♭–E♭–G♭); 1st inversion (D♭–E♭–G♭–A♭); 2nd inversion (E♭–G♭–A♭–D♭); 3rd inversion (G♭–A♭–D♭–E♭).
What is the difference between A♭7sus4 and A♭sus4?
A♭7sus4 is A♭sus4 with one note added: G♭.
Can I play A♭7sus4 with one hand?
Yes. In root position A♭7sus4 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.