suspended fourth chord
B♭, E♭ and F
- Root
- B♭
- Perfect fourth
- E♭
- Perfect fifth
- F
Formula
1 4 5 (5, 7 half steps above B♭)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | B♭ | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
B♭sus4 inversions
B♭sus4 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.
B♭sus4
Root position
| Notes | B♭ | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
B♭sus4/E♭
First inversion
| Notes | E♭ | F | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 1 |
B♭sus4/F
Second inversion
| Notes | F | B♭ | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Where B♭sus4 fits
B♭sus4 has no third, so it is neither major nor minor. All of its notes are in B♭ major, E♭ major, A♭ major, D♭ major and G♭ major, so it fits naturally in those keys.
How B♭sus4 is built
B♭ is the root, E♭ the perfect fourth and F the perfect fifth.
A sus4 chord swaps the third for the fourth, 5 half steps above the root. The fourth often steps down to the third next, turning B♭sus4 into B♭ major.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of B♭sus4 are B, E, F. That is why it is spelled B♭, E♭ and F.
Find B♭sus4 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 B♭sus4, in any octave and any order.
Practice B♭sus4 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 B♭sus4 chord?
B♭sus4 has three notes: B♭, E♭ and F. B♭ is the root, E♭ the perfect fourth and F the perfect fifth.
What fingers do you use for B♭sus4 on piano?
In root position, play B♭, E♭ and F with right hand fingers 1, 4 and 5 (thumb, ring finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of B♭sus4?
B♭sus4 has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (B♭sus4/E♭): E♭, F and B♭. Second inversion (B♭sus4/F): F, B♭ and E♭.
What is a suspended fourth chord?
A sus4 chord swaps the third for the fourth, 5 half steps above the root. The fourth often steps down to the third next, turning B♭sus4 into B♭ major. All the notes of B♭sus4 are in B♭ major, E♭ major, A♭ major and D♭ major.