Absus2 Ukulele Chord

Absus2 is the A flat suspended second chord on ukulele. It has three notes: A♭, B♭ and E♭. The standard shape lays the index across the strings at the 1st fret with two fingers stacked above it, and nothing in it rings open, so the whole grip slides.

Index flat across the strings at the 1st fret, ring on the 3rd fret of the C string, pinky on the 4th of the E. Nothing rings open, so the grip moves anywhere.

How to play Absus2 on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the G to A strings at fret 1
Ring finger: 3rd fret, C string
Pinky finger: 4th fret, E string
Strum all four strings.

No open strings means the shape is movable: slide everything up two frets and the same grip is Bbsus2. Learn it once and you have a sus2 for every root along this part of the neck.

More ways to play Absus2

There are 3 common Absus2 shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Absus2 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 3, played 3346 — Barre at fret 3

Absus2 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 6, played 8866 — Barre at fret 6

If the shape is not clean

Notes under the barre drop out: The index has to hold the G and A strings at the 1st fret while the middle two strings are fretted above it. Roll the finger slightly onto its outer edge so the bone takes the pressure.
The pinky lands flat: It takes the 4th fret of the E string, the widest reach in the shape. Bring the wrist forward a touch so the pinky can come down on its tip.
Everything buzzes near the nut: The 1st fret is where the strings are stiffest. Press the barre right behind the fret wire, not halfway between the wires.

What makes it an Absus2

A♭ · B♭ · E♭ 1 2 5

Absus2 replaces the third of the A flat chord, C, with B♭. What remains is a root, a whole step and a fifth: no major or minor identity at all. The B♭ normally settles back onto C as the chord resolves to A♭, and until it does the chord simply hangs.

A flat is a flat key chord through and through, so expect Absus2 in A♭, D♭ and E♭, the keys soul and gospel arrangements favour. The same three notes read from E♭ spell Ebsus4, the sus4 twin every sus2 has a fifth up, and in sharp spelling the chord is G#sus2.

Absus2 vs Absus4

Absus2 fills the space left by the missing third with B♭, approaching from below; Absus4 fills it with D♭, from above. One hangs a whole step under where the third was, the other a half step over it.

The jobs differ with the distance. The sus4 makes a short, tense lead-in that wants A♭ immediately; the sus2 makes a softer, emptier colour that can last whole bars before anything resolves.

Absus2 chord questions

Is G#sus2 the same as Absus2?

Yes, one chord with two names. A♭ is the spelling used here because this root lives in flat keys, where the songs that use it are written.

Is Absus2 major or minor?

Neither. The C that would make it major is swapped for B♭, so the chord floats until a third returns.

Is there an easier Absus2?

The standard shape is the easiest full version: a two string barre and two fingers. The shapes further up the page are the same chord at other spots on the neck, not simpler grips.

What is the difference between Absus2 and Absus4?

Absus2 suspends B♭, a whole step over the root; Absus4 suspends D♭, a fourth over it. The sus4 is the tense one, the sus2 the spacious one.

What does Absus2 resolve to?

A♭ major, when the B♭ steps up to C. It can also fall to A flat minor, since nothing in the chord blocks the minor third.