Ebsus4 Guitar Chord

E♭sus4 is the E flat suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: E♭, A♭ and B♭. Unusually for a flat key chord, its easiest version sits right at the bottom of the neck: a four string shape starting at the 1st fret with no barre. The standard five string barre lives at the 6th fret, and sharp key charts write the same chord as D♯sus4.

The Asus4 barre shape at the 6th fret, mid neck where barres press easiest. The standard despite the position.

How to play Ebsus4, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the A to high E strings at fret 6
Middle finger: 8th fret, D string
Ring finger: 8th fret, G string
Pinky finger: 9th fret, B string
Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

If the 6th fret barre is a stretch, learn the small shape at the 1st fret first; it is the same chord in miniature.

More ways to play Ebsus4

There are 3 common Ebsus4 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.

Ebsus4 guitar chord diagram, easier, no barre, played xx1344 — Easier, no barre

Ebsus4 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 11, played 11 13 13 13 11 11 — Barre at fret 11

If the chord will not speak

High E sounds thin or dead: It relies on the barre while the pinky works two frets above it. Roll the barre slightly onto its edge and keep the pinky vertical so the string has room.
The chord loses its bass: The root is the barre note on the A string. If it thuds, shift the index up or down a little so a firm section of the finger, not the crease of a joint, covers that string.
Buzzing at the 8th fret: Middle and ring sit as a pair on the D and G strings. Angle them slightly apart so each tip lands just behind the fret on its own string.

What makes it an Ebsus4

E♭ · A♭ · B♭ 1 4 5

Sus4 chords replace the third with the fourth. E♭sus4 keeps E♭ and B♭, the root and fifth of E♭ major, and puts A♭ where the third, G, belongs. With the third gone the chord is neither bright nor dark, only suspended, and the A♭ presses down a half step toward G. Release it and you land on E♭. Since E♭ is the I of E♭ major and the IV of B♭ major, both common horn and piano keys, guitarists usually meet this chord when playing along with songs written in flats.

Ebsus4 vs Ebsus2

E♭sus4 borrows the note above the missing third, A♭; E♭sus2 borrows F, the note below. The fourth strains toward E♭, the second simply floats. On the fretboard the two barre shapes share the 6th fret and swap a single finger, so once one is learned the other is nearly free. Sus4 is the busier of the two in real charts.

Ebsus4 chord questions

Is Ebsus4 the same as D#sus4?

Yes. E♭ and D♯ are one pitch with two names, so the chords are identical. Flat key music says E♭sus4, sharp key music says D♯sus4.

What is the easiest way to play Ebsus4?

The four string shape at the 1st fret: no barre, one finger per string, and it sits lower on the neck than any other voicing of this chord.

Is Ebsus4 major or minor?

Neither. Without a third there is nothing to make it major or minor. It hangs between the two until it resolves.

What does Ebsus4 resolve to?

Usually E♭ major, with the A♭ falling to G. It can also settle on E♭ minor, with the A♭ falling to G♭.

What is the difference between Ebsus4 and Ebsus2?

Sus4 replaces the missing third with A♭ from above; sus2 replaces it with F from below. Sus4 is tense, sus2 is open.