Piano chord
Fsus4F suspended fourth
- F1
- B♭4
- C5
- Notes
- 3
- Positions
- 3
- Span
- 7semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-5
How to play Fsus4 on piano
- Find F: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F, 3 on B♭, 5 on C.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F, 2 on B♭, 1 on C.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F – B♭ – C
1st inversion · B♭ – C – F
2nd inversion · C – F – B♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Fsus4 inversions
Here are all 3 positions of Fsus4. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has F at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: FRight hand 1-3-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-3-1
- 2nd inversionbass: CRight hand 1-2-5 · Left hand 5-2-1
Fsus4 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F an octave lower, the right hand plays F–B♭–C.
Fsus4 on other instruments
About the Fsus4 chord
The 3 notes of F suspended fourth are F (1), B♭ (4), C (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.
Put your thumb on F and count up: F – B♭ – C. The whole chord spans 7 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Fsus4 without stretching.
The inversions of Fsus4 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–C–F). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C (C–F–B♭).
Take E♭ out of F7sus4 and you get Fsus4.
Questions
What notes are in the Fsus4 chord?
Fsus4 (F suspended fourth) has 3 notes: F (1), B♭ (4), C (5).
How many inversions does Fsus4 have?
Fsus4 can be played in 3 positions: Root position (F–B♭–C); 1st inversion (B♭–C–F); 2nd inversion (C–F–B♭).
What is the difference between Fsus4 and F7sus4?
Take E♭ out of F7sus4 and you get Fsus4.
Can I play Fsus4 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Fsus4 spans 7 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.