Bsus4 Guitar Chord

Bsus4 is the B suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: B, E and F♯. The standard shape is a five string barre at the 2nd fret, the Asus4 shape moved up two frets, and it is the very first chord you hear in Pinball Wizard by The Who. If the barre is a problem, there is a four string shape with none at all.

The Asus4 shape barred at the 2nd fret: index across five strings, middle and ring at the 4th, pinky at the 5th.

How to play Bsus4, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the A to high E strings at fret 2
Middle finger: 4th fret, D string
Ring finger: 4th fret, G string
Pinky finger: 5th fret, B string
Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

From this grip, plain B is one small move away: the pinky note on the B string drops back one fret, from E to D♯.

More ways to play Bsus4

There are 3 common Bsus4 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Bsus4 guitar chord diagram, easier, no barre, played x x 9 11 12 12 — Easier, no barre

Bsus4 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 7, played 799977 — Barre at fret 7

Common trouble spots

High E string will not sound: The barre covers it at the 2nd fret while the pinky works right above it at the 5th. Arch the pinky upright and roll the index slightly so its edge holds the thin strings down.
Low E rings underneath: It does not belong in the chord. Let the tip of the index barre poke past the A string just enough to touch and silence it.
The 4th fret notes buzz: Middle and ring sit together on the D and G strings. Keep both pressing straight down close behind the fret, or they lean on each other and neither note speaks.

What makes it a Bsus4

B · E · F♯ 1 4 5

In Bsus4 the fourth takes the place of the third. The chord keeps B and F♯, the root and fifth of B major, and plays E instead of D♯. With no third it commits to neither major nor minor; instead the E hangs a half step above D♯ and pulls the ear toward plain B. That is the classic sus4 job: hold the tension for a beat, then release it. B is the V chord of E major, so Bsus4 to B to E is a move you will meet constantly in that key.

Bsus4 vs Bsus2

Bsus4 swaps the third of B for E, just above it; Bsus2 swaps it for C♯, a step below. Sus4 presses forward, sus2 hangs back. On guitar they are close cousins in barre form, both built at the 2nd fret, so pick by ear: Bsus4 when the line should tighten before landing on B, Bsus2 when it should simply soften.

Bsus4 chord questions

How do I play Bsus4 without a barre?

Use the four string shape starting at the 9th fret: one finger per string, no barre. It is thinner but it is a complete Bsus4.

Is Bsus4 hard?

About as hard as B major. Both are 2nd fret barre shapes; Bsus4 just stacks the fingers differently. If B is already in your hands, this takes minutes.

What song opens with Bsus4?

Pinball Wizard by The Who. The acoustic intro starts on Bsus4 and works its way down through more sus4 chords.

What is the difference between Bsus4 and Bsus2?

The replacement note. Bsus4 uses E, above the missing third; Bsus2 uses C♯, below it. Bsus4 is the tenser of the two.

What does Bsus4 resolve to?

Plain B, with the E falling to D♯. It also resolves to B minor, where the E falls to D.