Bbsus4 Ukulele Chord

B♭sus4 is the B flat suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: B♭, E♭ and F. The standard shape is the B♭ barre chord with its middle note raised: the index still covers the E and A strings at the 1st fret, and the C string note climbs from D to E♭. Sharp key charts spell the identical chord A♯sus4.

341B♭E♭FB♭

The B♭ barre with the suspension added: index across the E and A strings at the 1st fret, ring and pinky together at the 3rd on the G and C.

How to play Bbsus4 on ukulele, step by step

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

Hold B♭, then push the C string note up one fret. Sliding it back resolves the suspension, which is how nearly every song uses the chord.

More ways to play Bbsus4

There are 3 common Bbsus4 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.

Frets 3 to 6
Bbsus4 ukulele chord diagram, frets 3 to 6, played 3566

Fuller and rounder than the barre shape, with the root ringing from the G string.

Frets 5 to 8
Bbsus4 ukulele chord diagram, frets 5 to 8, played 8566

Tight and horn-like; the kind of shape you punch on the off beats.

If the barre is not clean

The 1st fret barre buzzes
The strings are stiffest next to the nut. Roll the index slightly onto its edge and let the arm's weight, not the thumb, supply the pressure.
Ring and pinky fight for space
They share the 3rd fret on the G and C strings. Stack them in a shallow diagonal, each on its tip, so neither flattens the other.
It sounds identical to Bb
Then the C string is still at the 2nd fret. The E♭ at the 3rd fret is the suspension; check that finger moved.

What makes it a Bbsus4

B♭ · E♭ · F 1 4 5

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

Expect it in the keys of B♭, E♭ and F, flat keys that arrive on the ukulele through horn songs, piano songs and singers who like them. The sus costs nothing beyond the B♭ barre players already know.

Bbsus4 vs Bbsus2

The two suspensions replace the third of B♭ in opposite directions. B♭sus4 pushes it up to E♭ and creates tension that leans back home. B♭sus2 drops it to C and sounds open and undecided instead.

Both live one finger away from the same 1st fret barre, so the pair can decorate a long B♭ bar without the hand moving.

Bbsus4 chord questions

Are Bbsus4 and A#sus4 the same?

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

Is Bbsus4 hard to play?

It is as hard as B♭ itself: a two string index barre at the 1st fret plus two fingers at the 3rd. No harder, no easier.

What does Bbsus4 resolve to?

B♭ major, almost always. The E♭ falls one half step onto D and the tension releases.

Is Bbsus4 major or minor?

Neither. The third has been replaced by the fourth, so the chord commits to nothing until it lands.

Do you strum all four strings?

Yes. The barre covers the E and A strings and the strum crosses all four.

Chords to learn next

Other Bb chords