Absus4 Ukulele Chord

A♭sus4 is the A flat suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: A♭, D♭ and E♭. The standard shape uses all four fingers, one per string from the 1st fret to the 4th, and it differs from plain A♭ by a single note: the A string rises one fret. Sharp key charts spell the identical chord G♯sus4.

One finger per string: index at the 1st fret on the G, middle at the 3rd on the C, ring and pinky at the 4th on the E and A. Next to plain A♭, only the A string note has changed.

How to play Absus4 on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: 1st fret, G string
Middle finger: 3rd fret, C string
Ring finger: 4th fret, E string
Pinky finger: 4th fret, A string
Strum all four strings.

Only one note separates this from plain A♭: the A string sits one fret higher here. Move that note down a fret and the suspension resolves.

More ways to play Absus4

There are 3 common Absus4 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.

Absus4 ukulele chord diagram, frets 3 to 6, played 6344 — Frets 3 to 6

Absus4 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 6, played 6896 — Barre at fret 6

If four fingers feel like too many

The 4th fret pair collides: Ring and pinky sit side by side on the E and A strings. Stagger them slightly, each on its tip, so both notes speak.
The index note buzzes: It holds the G string at the 1st fret, the stiffest spot on the neck. Set it right behind the fret and press with the very tip.
The chord sounds smeared: Four fretted strings need an even strum. Slow down once and listen for all four voices, then bring the speed back.

What makes it an Absus4

A♭ · D♭ · E♭ 1 4 5

Sus4 means the third is suspended: replaced by the fourth. A♭sus4 keeps the root and fifth of A♭ (A♭ and E♭) but plays D♭ where the third, C, would be. The D♭ hangs one half step above C and wants to fall back onto it, which resolves the chord to A♭.

Expect it in the keys of A♭, D♭ and E♭, flat keys that reach the ukulele through piano and soul songs. Since plain A♭ already uses four fingers here, the sus4 costs one fret of pinky travel and nothing more.

Absus4 vs Absus2

The two suspensions replace the third of A♭ in opposite directions. A♭sus4 stands the fourth, D♭, in for the missing third and pulls the ear toward A♭. A♭sus2 uses the second, B♭, and drifts instead.

Sus4 is the one charts actually write, usually as plain A♭sus; the sus2 colour is more often a choice a player makes than an instruction.

Absus4 chord questions

Are Absus4 and G#sus4 the same?

Yes, the same chord under two names. A♭ and G♯ are one pitch; which name a chart uses depends on the song's key.

Is Absus4 hard to play?

It uses all four fingers, one per string, so it takes a moment to set. The frets are close together though, and nothing stretches far.

What does Absus4 resolve to?

A♭ major, most of the time, as the D♭ steps down to C. It can also fall a whole step for A♭ minor.

Is Absus4 major or minor?

Neither. The note that would decide, the third, has been replaced by the fourth. That is what sus means.

Do you strum all four strings?

Yes. All four strings are fretted and every one belongs in the strum.