Piano chord
A♭sus2A flat suspended second
- A♭1
- B♭2
- E♭5
- Notes
- 3
- Positions
- 3
- Span
- 7semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-5
How to play A♭sus2 on piano
- Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 2 on B♭, 5 on E♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 3 on B♭, 1 on E♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A♭ – B♭ – E♭
1st inversion · B♭ – E♭ – A♭
2nd inversion · E♭ – A♭ – B♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
A♭sus2 inversions
Use these 3 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on A♭; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-3-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
A♭sus2 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–B♭–E♭.
A♭sus2 on other instruments
About the A♭sus2 chord
To build A flat suspended second, take these 3 notes from the root up: A♭ (1), B♭ (2), E♭ (5). A suspended second: the third is replaced by the second, so the chord is neither major nor minor. Open and airy, it often resolves to the major or minor chord.
On the keyboard, start from A♭ and add the other notes above it: A♭ – B♭ – E♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 7 semitones. That is less than an octave, so A♭sus2 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of A♭sus2 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–E♭–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–A♭–B♭).
Compared with A♭add9, A♭sus2 leaves out C.
Questions
What notes are in the A♭sus2 chord?
A♭sus2 (A flat suspended second) has 3 notes: A♭ (1), B♭ (2), E♭ (5).
How many inversions does A♭sus2 have?
A♭sus2 can be played in 3 positions: Root position (A♭–B♭–E♭); 1st inversion (B♭–E♭–A♭); 2nd inversion (E♭–A♭–B♭).
What is the difference between A♭sus2 and A♭add9?
Compared with A♭add9, A♭sus2 leaves out C.
Can I play A♭sus2 with one hand?
Yes. In root position A♭sus2 spans 7 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.