B♭ sus4 (B♭sus4) chord on mandolin

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

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 3medium

Position 6medium

Position 8medium

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What the B♭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 B♭sus4 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 1, ring finger (F5)
String 2 (A): fret 1, middle finger (B♭4)
String 3 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, little finger (B♭3)

Position 3, barre at fret 3

String 1 (E): fret 6, little finger (B♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 6, little finger (E♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 3, index finger (F4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, index finger (B♭3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 3; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 6

String 1 (E): fret 6, index finger (B♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 8, ring finger (F5)
String 3 (D): fret 8, ring finger (B♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 8, ring finger (E♭4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

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

B♭ major: Isus4 (tonic)
B♭ minor: Isus4 (tonic)
E♭ major: Vsus4 (dominant)
E♭ minor: Vsus4 (dominant)
F minor: IVsus4 (subdominant)
G♭ major: IIIsus4
D♭ major: VIsus4
A♭ major: IIsus4
C minor: VIIsus4
G minor: IIIsus4

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

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

Same notes

E♭sus2 – the same notes with a different root

Richer versions

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

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭sus4 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play B♭sus4 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 4 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

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.

Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?

In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.