Absus4 Guitar Chord
Absus4 is a suspended chord built from Ab, Db, Eb. Replacing the third with a perfect fourth creates tension that typically resolves to Ab major — a motion widely used in rock, pop, and folk for dramatic chord changes.
4 ways to play Absus4
Notes
Intervals
Ab (Root), Db (Perfect 4th), Eb (Perfect 5th)
Found in keys
Notes in the Ab Suspended 4th Chord
The Ab Suspended 4th chord is built from 3 notes: Ab, Db, Eb. It is a suspended 4th chord — built from a root, perfect fourth (5 semitones above the root), and perfect fifth — no third is present. On guitar, these notes are voiced across multiple strings simultaneously to create the full chord sound. Depending on the voicing, some notes may be doubled in different octaves to fill out the sound.
Keys That Contain Ab Suspended 4th
Absus4 is built on the Ab major chord, which appears diatonically in these keys:
Common Chord Progressions with Absus4
Ab Suspended 4th appears in many common progressions. Here are the most-used patterns when Absus4 is the tonic chord:
Use our chords in a key tool to find all the chords that naturally pair with Absus4 in any key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Ab Suspended 4th chord?
The Ab Suspended 4th chord is made up of Ab, Db, Eb. These 3 notes form a triad (three-note chord structure).
What key is the Ab Suspended 4th chord in?
Ab Suspended 4th naturally appears in the keys of Db Major, Ab Major, Eb Major. It can also appear in other contexts as a borrowed chord or secondary chord.
How do I play the Absus4 chord on guitar?
Place your fingers on the guitar fretboard according to the diagram above. The numbered dots show finger placement (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky), "O" means play the string open, and "X" means mute that string.
Other Ab Chords
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