The E♭ 9sus4 chord is a five-note chord made up of E♭, A♭, B♭, D♭, and F. It is built from a root, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.
Construction
E♭ 9sus4 = Root + Perfect 4th + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd = E♭ · A♭ · B♭ · D♭ · F
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | Root | 1 |
| A♭ | Perfect 4th | 11 |
| B♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| D♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
| F | Major 2nd | 9 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the E♭ 9sus4 is the tonic (I) chord of Eb Major, whose key signature has 3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭).
B♭E♭A♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of E♭ Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the E♭ major scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes E♭ – A♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
E♭ 9sus4 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the E♭ 9sus4 chord on piano?
The E♭ 9sus4 chord contains the notes E♭ – A♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Eb 9sus4 chord?
The Eb 9sus4 chord (Eb9sus4) contains 5 notes: Eb, Ab, Bb, Db, F. Formula: R-P4-P5-m7-M9.
How is Eb9sus4 used in music?
Eb9sus4 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 Eb9sus4?
Eb9sus4 uses scale degrees 1-4-5-b7-9, giving it its distinctive sound.