Esus4: E Suspended 4th Piano Chord

Root position: either hand, fingers low note to high
Hand	Notes	Fingers
Right	E, A, B	1-3-5
Left	E, A, B	5-3-1

Scale degree, note, and interval measured from the root.
Degree	Note	Interval from root	Semitones
1	E	Perfect unison	0
4	A	Perfect fourth	5
5	B	Perfect fifth	7

Construction

E Suspended 4th = Root + Perfect 4th + Perfect 5th = E, A, B

Note	Interval	Degree
E	Root	1
A	Perfect 4th	4
B	Perfect 5th	5

Fingering

Note	Key color	Right hand	Left hand
E	white	thumb (1)	little finger (5)
A	white	middle finger (3)	middle finger (3)
B	white	little finger (5)	thumb (1)

Right hand: thumb (1) on E, middle finger (3) on A, little finger (5) on B.

Left hand: little finger (5) on E, middle finger (3) on A, thumb (1) on B.

E Suspended 4th Inversions

Root position
E – A – B
1st inversion (Esus4/A)
A – B – E
2nd inversion (Esus4/B)
B – E – A

Key Signature

A Suspended 4th chord is built from symmetrical or ambiguous intervals, so it doesn't belong to a single key and has no key signature of its own.

Chords in the Key of E Major

These are the triads built on each degree of E Major:

I — E Major (major)

Degree	Numeral	Chord	Quality
1	I	E Major	Major
2	ii	F♯ Minor	Minor
3	iii	G♯ Minor	Minor
4	IV	A Major	Major
5	V	B Major	Major
6	vi	C♯ Minor	Minor
7	vii°	D♯ Diminished	Diminished

Scales That Include the E Suspended 4th

C Major (iii)
G Major (vi)
D Major (ii)
A Major (V)
E Major (I)
A Minor (v)
E Minor (i)
B Minor (iv)

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes E – A – B aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

A Suspended 2nd→

E Suspended 4th : Frequently Asked Questions

What is the E Suspended 4th chord on piano?

The E Suspended 4th chord contains the notes E – A – B. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.

What notes are in the E Suspended 4th chord?

The E Suspended 4th chord (Esus4) contains: E (root), A (perfect fourth), and B (perfect fifth). The perfect fourth replaces the third, creating a strong upward pull toward resolution, the 4th degree (A) strongly wants to resolve down to the major third.

How does E Suspended 4th differ from Esus2?

Both replace the third, but Esus2 uses the 2nd degree (giving an airy, neutral feel) while E Suspended 4th uses the 4th degree (A), which creates stronger tension. The sus4 chord has a more urgent, directional pull toward resolution than sus2.

What does "sus4" resolve to?

The 4th degree (A) in a sus4 chord typically resolves down by one semitone to the major 3rd of the chord: this is the classical "suspension resolution." The movement A → (major 3rd) is one of the most satisfying motions in Western harmony and drives the resolution from Esus4 → E Major.

How is E Suspended 4th used in music?

Sus4 chords appear in nearly every genre. They create anticipation before resolution to a major chord, work as dramatic openings (Pinball Wizard, Hard Day's Night), and add harmonic colour in pop and classical music. The E Suspended 4th is especially common as a pre-dominant chord that builds tension before the final chord of a phrase.

What songs use suspended 4th chords?

A Hard Day's Night (Beatles) opens with a sus4 chord. Pinball Wizard (The Who) uses sus4 throughout. Feelin' Alright (Traffic), Behind Blue Eyes (The Who), and many hymns use sus4 chords for their characteristic build-and-release quality.

Can I use E Suspended 4th before E Major?

Yes: Esus4 → E Major is one of the most satisfying resolutions in music. The fourth degree (A) resolves down to the major third, while the root and fifth stay constant. This V–I style resolution works in any tempo and style, from gospel to pop to classical.

E Suspended 4th in detail

Exact

Every pitch class is present and nothing outside the chord is added.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation
Close, root position	E3 A3 B3	7	96 mm	none	identical
Close, first inversion	A3 B3 E4	7	96 mm	none	identical
Close, second inversion	B3 E4 A4	10	138 mm	none	identical
Open, fifth on top	E2 B2 A3	17	234 mm	none	identical

Reduced

A subset of the pitch classes: the identity is incomplete rather than altered.

Type	Notes	Semitones	Span	Omissions and additions	Set relation	Fit
Root and third only	E3 A3	5	69 mm	omits B	subset

Spans are measured centre to centre at a 165 mm octave (standard keyboard geometry).

Position	Bass note	Notes in order	Figured bass	Semitones	Span
Root position	E	E3, A3, B3	5/3	7	96 mm
First inversion: Esus4/A	A	A3, B3, E4	6/3	7	96 mm
Second inversion: Esus4/B	B	B3, E4, A4	6/4	10	138 mm

One position per chord tone in the bass. Spans are for close position: voiced inversions appear under Voicings.

Change one note

Chords a single note away, and what moving that note does.

Chord	Change	Formula	Common tones
E7sus4	adds D	1 4 5 ♭7	3
E	A becomes G♯	1 3 5	2
Em	A becomes G	1 ♭3 5	2
Esus2	A becomes F♯	1 2 5	2
Emaj7	A becomes G♯, D♯	1 3 5 7	2
E7	A becomes G♯, D	1 3 5 ♭7	2
Em7	A becomes G, D	1 ♭3 5 ♭7	2
EmMaj7	A becomes G, D♯	1 ♭3 5 7	2
E6	A becomes G♯, C♯	1 3 5 6	2
Em6	A becomes G, C♯	1 ♭3 5 6	2
Eadd9	A becomes G♯, F♯	1 3 5 9	2
Edim	A, B becomes G, B♭	1 ♭3 ♭5	1

Frequencies

Note	MIDI	Frequency
E3	52	164.81 Hz
A3	57	220.00 Hz
B3	59	246.94 Hz

Reference pitch A440, 12-TET, close root position.

Set theory: prime form, Forte number, interval vector

Absolute pitch class set: {4, 9, 11}
Normal order: [9, 11, 4]
Prime form: (027)
Forte number: 3-9
Interval vector: <010020>

Pair	Interval	Semitones	Interval class
E to A	Perfect fourth	5	5
E to B	Perfect fifth	7	5
A to B	Major second	2	2

Where these facts come from

Every value on this page is derived from the note formula for a suspended 4th applied to the root E, using standard music theory. Nothing here is hand-entered per chord, so the notes, intervals, inversions and frequencies cannot drift out of agreement with each other. Pitches assume 12-TET at A440.

E Suspended 4th

Fingerings

E Suspended 4th: notes and degrees