suspended second chord
A♭, B♭ and E♭
- Root
- A♭
- Major second
- B♭
- Perfect fifth
- E♭
Formula
1 2 5 (2, 7 half steps above A♭)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | A♭ | B♭ | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 1 |
A♭sus2 inversions
A♭sus2 has 2 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
A♭sus2
Root position
| Notes | A♭ | B♭ | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 1 |
A♭sus2/B♭
First inversion
| Notes | B♭ | E♭ | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
A♭sus2/E♭
Second inversion
| Notes | E♭ | A♭ | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Where A♭sus2 fits
A♭sus2 has no third, so it is neither major nor minor. All of its notes are in A♭ major, E♭ major, D♭ major and G♭ major, so it fits naturally in those keys.
How A♭sus2 is built
A♭ is the root, B♭ the major second and E♭ the perfect fifth.
A sus2 chord swaps the third for the second, 2 half steps above the root, so it is neither major nor minor and sounds open. A♭sus2 uses the same keys as E♭sus4.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of A♭sus2 are A, B, E. That is why it is spelled A♭, B♭ and E♭.
Find A♭sus2 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 3
Tap the notes of A♭sus2, in any octave and any order.
Practice A♭sus2 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the A♭sus2 chord?
A♭sus2 has three notes: A♭, B♭ and E♭. A♭ is the root, B♭ the major second and E♭ the perfect fifth.
What fingers do you use for A♭sus2 on piano?
In root position, play A♭, B♭ and E♭ with right hand fingers 1, 2 and 5 (thumb, index finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 4 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of A♭sus2?
A♭sus2 has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (A♭sus2/B♭): B♭, E♭ and A♭. Second inversion (A♭sus2/E♭): E♭, A♭ and B♭.
What is a suspended second chord?
A sus2 chord swaps the third for the second, 2 half steps above the root, so it is neither major nor minor and sounds open. A♭sus2 uses the same keys as E♭sus4. All the notes of A♭sus2 are in A♭ major, E♭ major, D♭ major and G♭ major.