A♭sus2 chord
A♭sus2 is A♭, B♭ and E♭: 1–2–5 built on A♭. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
4-1-1-3-4-x · partial barre · medium
- Notes
- A♭ · B♭ · E♭
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
- First shape
- 4-1-1-3-4-x
A♭sus2 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · A♭–B♭–E♭ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- A♭ · B♭ · E♭
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
A♭sus2 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-3-4-1 · movable · medium
- Notes
- A♭ · B♭ · E♭
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
- First shape
- 1-3-4-1
Where A♭sus2 usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what A♭sus2 does in songs.
- A♭sus2 → A♭ (resolves up to the third)
Guitar: A♭sus2 (4-1-1-3-4-x) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: A♭ and E♭.
Piano: A♭sus2 to A♭: play A♭ in root position (A♭–C–E♭) and A♭ and E♭ stay under the same fingers, while B♭ moves up to C. A♭ - A♭sus2 → C♯ (IV in A♭ major)
Guitar: A♭sus2 (4-1-1-3-4-x) to C♯ (x-4-6-6-6-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 6th fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 6th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. A♭ carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: A♭sus2 to C♯: play C♯ in 2nd inversion (G♯–C♯–E♯) and G♯ stays under the same finger, while B♭ moves up to C♯ and E♭ up to E♯. C♯ - A♭sus2 → E♭ (V in A♭ major)
Guitar: A♭sus2 (4-1-1-3-4-x) to E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3): your middle and pinky fingers stay put, move the index finger to the D string, 1st fret, the ring finger goes to the high E string, 3rd fret. Shared notes: B♭ and E♭.
Piano: A♭sus2 to E♭: play E♭ in 1st inversion (G–B♭–E♭) and B♭ and E♭ stay under the same fingers, while A♭ moves down to G. E♭
Guitar with a capo: capo 6, Dsus2 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, Gsus2 shape; capo 6, Dsus2 shape.
How A♭sus2 is built
A♭sus2 replaces the third with the second, so it is neither major nor minor. It sounds open and airy, and it often resolves to A♭ or A♭m, or simply rings as a color of its own.
Start on A♭, count 2 half steps up to B♭ then 5 half steps up to E♭. You may also see it as G♯sus2: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♭ | root | 0 | |
| B♭ | major second | 2 | |
| E♭ | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with A♭sus2
A♭sus2 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to A♭sus2
- A♭sus2 and A♭ differ by one note: B♭ in A♭sus2, C in A♭. They share A♭ and E♭. A♭
- A♭sus2 and A♭sus4 differ by one note: B♭ in A♭sus2, D♭ in A♭sus4. They share A♭ and E♭. A♭sus4
Chords that share most of their notes with A♭sus2: E♭sus4, A♭add9, A♭9, C♯sus2, E♭, E♭m.
Every A♭ chord
A♭sus2 chord: questions
What notes are in the A♭sus2 chord?
A♭, B♭ and E♭. A♭sus2 is built 1–2–5 from A♭: B♭ is the major second and E♭ is the perfect fifth.
How do you play A♭sus2 on guitar?
The usual shape is 4-1-1-3-4-x (partial barre). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play A♭sus2 on piano?
Play A♭, B♭ and E♭ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. A♭ sits on the middle black key of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play A♭sus2 on ukulele?
1-3-4-1 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is A♭sus2 in?
A♭sus2 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
What's the difference between A♭sus2 and A♭?
A♭sus2 and A♭ differ by one note: B♭ in A♭sus2, C in A♭. They share A♭ and E♭.
All three instruments are drawn and played from A♭, B♭ and E♭ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.