Piano chord
B♭sus4B flat suspended fourth
- B♭1
- E♭4
- F5
- Notes
- 3
- Positions
- 3
- Span
- 7semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-5
How to play B♭sus4 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 3 on E♭, 5 on F.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B♭, 2 on E♭, 1 on F.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B♭ – E♭ – F
1st inversion · E♭ – F – B♭
2nd inversion · F – B♭ – E♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
B♭sus4 inversions
Use these 3 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on B♭; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: B♭Right hand 1-3-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
B♭sus4 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays B♭–E♭–F.
B♭sus4 on other instruments
About the B♭sus4 chord
To build B flat suspended fourth, take these 3 notes from the root up: B♭ (1), E♭ (4), F (5). A suspended fourth: the third is replaced by the fourth. It sounds unfinished and usually resolves to the major chord on the same root.
On the keyboard, start from B♭ and add the other notes above it: B♭ – E♭ – F. From the lowest to the highest key that is 7 semitones. That is less than an octave, so B♭sus4 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of B♭sus4 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–F–B♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F (F–B♭–E♭).
Compared with B♭7sus4, B♭sus4 leaves out A♭.
Questions
What notes are in the B♭sus4 chord?
B♭sus4 (B flat suspended fourth) has 3 notes: B♭ (1), E♭ (4), F (5).
How many inversions does B♭sus4 have?
B♭sus4 can be played in 3 positions: Root position (B♭–E♭–F); 1st inversion (E♭–F–B♭); 2nd inversion (F–B♭–E♭).
What is the difference between B♭sus4 and B♭7sus4?
Compared with B♭7sus4, B♭sus4 leaves out A♭.
Can I play B♭sus4 with one hand?
Yes. In root position B♭sus4 spans 7 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.