A♭ sus4 (A♭sus4) chord on guitar

The A♭ sus4 chord (A♭sus4) is a sus4 chord (a perfect fourth instead of the third), made of three notes: A♭ – D♭ – E♭. The same chord with a different spelling: G♯ sus4 (G♯sus4).

Dots show:

Easy versioneasy

Position 1medium

E shape, fret 4medium

D shape, fret 6medium

C shape, fret 8medium

A shape, fret 11hard

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the A♭sus4 chord sounds like

In a sus4 chord a perfect fourth replaces the third. The fourth is 'suspended' and usually resolves down to the third (sus4 → major), a classic move at cadences.

Notes of the A♭sus4 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A♭	root
4	D♭	perfect fourth (5 semitones)
5	E♭	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Easy version, barre at fret 4

String 1 (e): fret 4, index finger (A♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, index finger (E♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 6, little finger (D♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 6, ring finger (A♭3)
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 4; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 1, barre at fret 1

String 1 (e): not played
String 2 (B): fret 2, middle finger (D♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 1, index finger (A♭3)
String 4 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭3)
String 5 (A): fret 4, little finger (D♭3)
String 6 (E): fret 4, little finger (A♭2)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 1; your other fingers press the higher frets.

E shape, fret 4, barre at fret 4

String 1 (e): fret 4, index finger (A♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, index finger (E♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 6, ring finger (D♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 6, ring finger (A♭3)
String 5 (A): fret 6, ring finger (E♭3)
String 6 (E): fret 4, index finger (A♭2)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 4; your other fingers press the higher frets.

The “C, A, G, E and D shapes” are the CAGED system: you slide the shape of the open C, A, G, E or D chord up the neck and your index finger (a barre) takes over the job of the nut. That way the same chord can be played in five places, anywhere on the fretboard.

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Playing A♭sus4 with a capo

A capo clamps all the strings at one fret, so a familiar open shape sounds higher. You can also get a A♭sus4 chord with these open shapes:

Capo: fret 1
shape: Gsus4

Capo: fret 4
shape: Esus4

Capo: fret 6
shape: Dsus4

Rework a whole song for a capo: chord transposer →

Which keys is it in?

The A♭sus4 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A♭ major: Isus4 (tonic)
D♭ major: Vsus4 (dominant)
E♭ minor: IVsus4 (subdominant)
G♭ major: IIsus4
B♭ minor: VIIsus4
F minor: IIIsus4

Similar chords and substitutes

If A♭sus4 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A♭ – resolves the suspension to major
A♭m – or to minor

Same notes

C♯sus2 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

A♭5 – all 2 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

A♭7sus4 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
A♭11 – the same chord plus 3 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭sus4 chord?

A♭, D♭, E♭. The root is A♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: perfect fourth, perfect fifth.

What is the easiest way to play A♭sus4 on guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Easy version”, rated easy. We show 6 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck. With a capo you can also play it as a Gsus4 shape at fret 1 or a Esus4 shape at fret 4.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the A♭sus4 chord written?

The chord symbol is A♭sus4 (also written Absus4), and its full name is A♭ sus4.