Asus4 chord
Asus4 is A, D and E: 1–4–5 built on A. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-0-2-2-3-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- A · D · E
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- First shape
- x-0-2-2-3-0
Asus4 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · A–D–E · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- A · D · E
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
Asus4 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-2-0-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- A · D · E
- Formula
- 1 · 4 · 5
- First shape
- 2-2-0-0
Changing out of Asus4
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- Asus4 → A (resolves down to the third)
Guitar: Asus4 (x-0-2-2-3-0) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): your index and middle fingers stay put, move the ring finger to the B string, 2nd fret. That makes it one of the quickest changes from this chord. Shared notes: A and E.
Piano: Asus4 to A: play A in root position (A–C♯–E) and A and E stay under the same fingers, while D moves down to C♯. A - Asus4 → D (IV in A major)
Guitar: Asus4 (x-0-2-2-3-0) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): your ring finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the high E string, 2nd fret. Listen for A and D, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Asus4 to D: play D in 2nd inversion (A–D–F♯) and A and D stay under the same fingers, while E moves up to F♯. D - Asus4 → E (V in A major)
Guitar: Asus4 (x-0-2-2-3-0) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): move the index finger to the G string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: E.
Piano: Asus4 to E: play E in 1st inversion (G♯–B–E) and E stays under the same finger, while A moves down to G♯ and D down to B. E
Guitar with a capo: capo 5, Esus4 shape; capo 7, Dsus4 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 2, Gsus4 shape; capo 7, Dsus4 shape.
How Asus4 is built
Asus4 lifts the third up to the fourth. The suspended note wants to fall back, so Asus4 usually resolves to A major: play Asus4 then A and you'll hear it settle.
Start on A, count 5 half steps up to D then 2 half steps up to E.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | root | 0 | |
| D | perfect fourth | 5 | |
| E | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with Asus4
Asus4 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to Asus4
- Asus4 and A differ by one note: D in Asus4, C♯ in A. They share A and E. A
- Asus4 and Asus2 differ by one note: D in Asus4, B in Asus2. They share A and E. Asus2
Chords that share most of their notes with Asus4: Dsus2, Dadd9, D9, D, Dm, Dsus4.
Every A chord
Asus4 chord: questions
What notes are in the Asus4 chord?
A, D and E. Asus4 is built 1–4–5 from A: D is the perfect fourth and E is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Asus4 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-0-2-2-3-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Asus4 on piano?
Play A, D and E with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. A sits between the last two black keys of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Asus4 on ukulele?
2-2-0-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Asus4 in?
Asus4 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 Asus4 and A?
Asus4 and A differ by one note: D in Asus4, C♯ in A. They share A and E.
All three instruments are drawn and played from A, D and E by the same engine. Updated September 2026.