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Chord · Reference entry

E 7sus4

7sus4 · E – A – B – D · intervals P1-P4-P5-m7

The E 7sus4 chord (E7sus4) contains the notes E, A, B, and D. Its interval formula is R-P4-P5-m7. A dominant 7th with the 3rd replaced by the 4th — modal and gospel, a softer alternative to V7.

At the keyboard

E · A · B · D
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on E 7sus4
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E7sus4

The E 7sus4 chord is a four-note chord made up of E, A, B, and D. It is built from a root, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, and minor seventh.

Construction

E 7sus4 = Root + Perfect 4th + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th = E · A · B · D
NoteIntervalDegree
ERoot1
APerfect 4th11
BPerfect 5th5
DMinor 7th♭7

E 7sus4 Inversions

E 7sus4 piano chord, 1st inversion — A, B, D, E
The E 7sus4 chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
E 7sus4 piano chord, 2nd inversion — B, D, E, A
The E 7sus4 chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
E 7sus4 piano chord, 3rd inversion — D, E, A, B
The E 7sus4 chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionE – A – B – D
1st InversionA – B – D – E
2nd InversionB – D – E – A
3rd InversionD – E – A – B

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the E 7sus4 is the tonic (I) chord of E Major, whose key signature has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

F♯C♯G♯D♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

FCGDAEB

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Chords in the Key of E Major

These are the triads built on each degree of the E major scale:

C1C2C3C4EBC5C6C7C8G#
IE Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IE MajorMajor
2iiF♯ MinorMinor
3iiiG♯ MinorMinor
4IVA MajorMajor
5VB MajorMajor
6viC♯ MinorMinor
7vii°D♯ DiminishedDiminished

E 7sus4 — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the E 7sus4 chord on piano?
The E 7sus4 chord contains the notes E – A – B – D. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the E 7sus4 chord?
The E 7sus4 chord (E7sus4) contains 4 notes: E, A, B, D. Formula: R-P4-P5-m7.
How is E7sus4 used in music?
E7sus4 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for E7sus4?
E7sus4 uses scale degrees 1-4-5-b7, giving it its distinctive sound.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    George Grove (ed.)(1900)

    A Dictionary of Music and Musicians

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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