Piano chord
B7sus4B seventh suspended fourth
- B1
- E4
- F♯5
- A♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play B7sus4 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, 4 on F♯, 5 on A.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B, 3 on E, 2 on F♯, 1 on A.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B – E – F♯ – A
1st inversion · E – F♯ – A – B
2nd inversion · F♯ – A – B – E
3rd inversion · A – B – E – F♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
B7sus4 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of B7sus4. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has B at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: BRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: ERight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: ARight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
B7sus4 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B an octave lower, the right hand plays B–E–F♯–A.
B7sus4 on other instruments
About the B7sus4 chord
The 4 notes of B seventh suspended fourth are B (1), E (4), F♯ (5), A (♭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.
The keys are B – E – F♯ – A, counted up from B; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold B7sus4, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of B7sus4 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is E (E–F♯–A–B). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–A–B–E). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A (A–B–E–F♯).
Add A to Bsus4 and you have B7sus4.
Questions
What notes are in the B7sus4 chord?
B7sus4 (B seventh suspended fourth) has 4 notes: B (1), E (4), F♯ (5), A (♭7).
How many inversions does B7sus4 have?
B7sus4 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B–E–F♯–A); 1st inversion (E–F♯–A–B); 2nd inversion (F♯–A–B–E); 3rd inversion (A–B–E–F♯).
What is the difference between B7sus4 and Bsus4?
Add A to Bsus4 and you have B7sus4.
Can I play B7sus4 with one hand?
Yes. In root position B7sus4 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.