Ebsus4 Ukulele Chord

E♭sus4 is the E flat suspended fourth chord. It has three notes: E♭, A♭ and B♭. The standard shape is a barre: the index lies across all four strings at the 1st fret while the ring finger takes the 3rd fret on the C string and the pinky the 4th on the E. Sharp key charts spell the identical chord D♯sus4.

134A♭E♭A♭B♭

A full barre at the 1st fret with the ring finger at the 3rd on the C string and the pinky at the 4th on the E.

How to play Ebsus4 on ukulele, step by step

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

The same grip slid up two frets is Fsus4, and two more is Gsus4: nothing in the shape is specific to E flat, which is the useful thing about barre chords.

More ways to play Ebsus4

There are 3 common Ebsus4 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.

Barre at fret 3
Ebsus4 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 3, played 3346

Leaner, with the suspension tucked into the middle of the chord.

Barre at fret 6
Ebsus4 ukulele chord diagram, barre at fret 6, played 8866

Punchy and high; the grip every barre player already knows, six frets up.

Getting a clean barre at fret 1

Strings buzz under the barre
The 1st fret is the stiffest place on the neck. Set the index right behind the fret, roll it slightly onto its edge, and let arm weight do the pressing.
The stacked fingers collide
Ring and pinky sit one fret apart on neighbouring strings. Keep each on its tip in a shallow diagonal so neither flattens the other.
Some strings are louder than others
A barre chord only sounds even if the strum is. Slow the strum down once and listen for all four voices before going back to tempo.

What makes it an Ebsus4

E♭ · A♭ · B♭ 1 4 5

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

Expect it in the keys of E♭, A♭ and B♭, the flat keys of horn sections, gospel and soul. On the ukulele every E♭ chord is fretted, so the sus4 arrives as a barre from the start.

Ebsus4 vs Ebsus2

The two suspensions replace the third of E♭ in opposite directions. E♭sus4 pushes it up to A♭ and creates the lean that resolves home. E♭sus2 drops it to F and leaves the chord open instead.

Sus4 is the one that appears in charts, usually written plain E♭sus; sus2 tends to be a player's own colour choice rather than a written instruction.

Ebsus4 chord questions

Are Ebsus4 and D#sus4 the same?

Yes, one chord with two names. E♭ and D♯ are the same pitch; flat keys prefer the E♭ spelling.

How hard is Ebsus4?

It is a barre chord at the 1st fret, so it asks for a settled barre technique. The two fretted notes above it are close and comfortable.

What does Ebsus4 resolve to?

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

Is Ebsus4 major or minor?

Neither. The third is replaced by the fourth; that suspended, undecided quality is the point of the chord.

Do you strum all four strings?

Yes. The barre holds all four strings down and the strum uses every one.

Chords to learn next

Other Eb chords