A 7sus4 (A7sus4) chord on piano

The A 7sus4 chord (A7sus4) is a 7sus4 chord (a sus4 chord plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: A – D – E – G.

Root position: A3 – D4 – E4 – G4

What the A7sus4 chord sounds like

A 7sus4 is a suspended dominant seventh: a fourth replaces the third. It is less tense than a plain 7 chord and popular in funk, jazz and modern pop.

Notes of the A7sus4 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A	root
4	D	perfect fourth (5 semitones)
5	E	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	G	minor seventh (10 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

A3 – D4 – E4 – G4

1st inversion

D4 – E4 – G4 – A4

2nd inversion

E4 – G4 – A4 – D5

3rd inversion

G4 – A4 – D5 – E5

Which keys is it in?

The A7sus4 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A minor: I7sus4 (tonic)
D major: V7sus4 (dominant)
D minor: V7sus4 (dominant)
E minor: IV7sus4 (subdominant)
F major: III7sus4
C major: VI7sus4
G major: II7sus4
B minor: VII7sus4

Similar chords and substitutes

If A7sus4 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

E♭7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
C♯dim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
A7 – a simpler dominant
D – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

Asus4 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

A11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A7sus4 chord?

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

How do I play the A7sus4 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the A7sus4 chord written?

The chord symbol is A7sus4, and its full name is A 7sus4.