
B 7sus4 (B7sus4) chord on piano
Looking for the B7sus4 chord on piano? It is a 7sus4 chord (a sus4 chord plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: B – E – F♯ – A.
Root position: B3 – E4 – F♯4 – A4
What the B7sus4 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 B7sus4 chord
| Degree | Note | Interval from the root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root |
| 4 | E | perfect fourth (5 semitones) |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect fifth (7 semitones) |
| 7 | A | 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
B3 – E4 – F♯4 – A4
1st inversion
E4 – F♯4 – A4 – B4
2nd inversion
F♯4 – A4 – B4 – E5
3rd inversion
A4 – B4 – E5 – F♯5
Which keys is it in?
The B7sus4 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):
- B minor: I7sus4 (tonic)
- E major: V7sus4 (dominant)
- E minor: V7sus4 (dominant)
- F♯ minor: IV7sus4 (subdominant)
- G major: III7sus4
- D major: VI7sus4
- A major: II7sus4
- C♯ minor: VII7sus4
Similar chords and substitutes
If B7sus4 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.
Substitutes (by function)
Simpler versions
- Bsus4 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
Richer versions
- B11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B7sus4 chord?
B, E, F♯, A. The root is B; the intervals of the other notes from the root: perfect fourth, perfect fifth, minor seventh.
How do I play the B7sus4 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.
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.
Related chords
The same chord on another instrument:
B7sus4 on guitarB7sus4 on ukuleleB7sus4 on mandolinB7sus4 on banjo
Other B chords on piano:
BBmB7Bmaj7Bm7Bsus2Bsus4B6Bm6Badd9BdimBaugBdim7Bm7b5B9Bm9Bmaj9B11B13
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