Ebsus2 Piano Chord

Ebsus2 is the E flat suspended second chord. It has three notes: E flat, F and B flat. The root and the fifth are black keys with a white key between them.

1E♭2F5B♭C4C5

E♭ at the bottom, then F and B♭. Right hand 1-2-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black keys are E♭ and B♭.

How to play Ebsus2 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the E♭ above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): E♭
  3. Index finger (2): F
  4. Little finger (5): B♭
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just E♭ on its own as a bass note.

Black, white, black is one of the most comfortable shapes on the keyboard, and this chord uses it. The thumb and little finger sit deep while the middle finger comes forward.

Inversions of Ebsus2

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Ebsus2; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionF B♭ E♭
Ebsus2 piano chord diagram, first inversion, F B♭ E♭
Lighter than root position and less final. A second in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionB♭ E♭ F
Ebsus2 piano chord diagram, second inversion, B♭ E♭ F
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.

If it sounds wrong

You have played G
That belongs to E flat major. Ebsus2 replaces it with F, one whole step above the root.
The middle note is wrong
F is the only white key here. If the chord sounds off, check that finger first.
The hand feels stretched
The span is only a fifth. If it feels wide, the hand is probably too far forward and the outer fingers are reaching back to the black keys.

What makes it an Ebsus2

E♭ · F · B♭ 1 2 5

Ebsus2 is E flat, F and B flat: the root, the second and the fifth.

It belongs to the keys of E flat, B flat and A flat. Those are horn and gospel keys, which is where this chord is most often heard.

Ebsus2 vs Eb

E flat major has G; Ebsus2 has F. Both are white keys in the middle of a black key pair, so the hand shape stays the same.

The sound changes completely: a settled major chord becomes an open, undecided one.

Questions about Ebsus2

What does sus mean in Ebsus2?

Suspended. The third of the chord is taken out and replaced by another note, so the chord is neither major nor minor. In Ebsus2 the third is replaced by F, the second.

Which notes are in a Ebsus2 chord on piano?

E flat, F and B flat.

What is the difference between Ebsus2 and E flatsus4?

Which note replaces the third. Ebsus2 uses the second, one step above the root; E flatsus4 uses the fourth, one step below the fifth. Sus2 sounds open and airy, sus4 sounds tense and wants to resolve.

Is Ebsus2 major or minor?

Neither. The third is the note that decides, and a suspended chord does not have one. That is why it can sit in front of either E flat major or E flat minor.

Chords to learn next

Other Eb chords