Ab
Ab9sus4
Notes
Ab · Db · Eb · Gb · Bb
Intervals
- RootAb (1P)
- Perfect 4thDb (4P)
- Perfect 5thEb (5P)
- Minor 7thGb (7m)
- Major 9thBb (9M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
About
The A♭9sus4 (A♭–D♭–E♭–G♭–B♭) extends 7sus4 with a 9th. The B♭ adds color above the suspended structure, and the absence of the third means the chord can function either as deferred dominant tension or as a stable texture in its own right — the latter is common in gospel and R&B, where 9sus4 chords are often held for extended periods without resolving. The 4th, ♭7, and 9th are the essential tones; the 5th can be dropped. Compared to A♭7sus4, the 9th adds warmth and sophistication without increasing the sense of urgency. When it does resolve, D♭ is the typical landing.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- A♭ Natural Minor (I)
- B Major (VI)
- B♭ Natural Minor (VII)
- D♭ Diminished (deg 5)
- D♭ Harmonic Minor (V)
- D♭ Major (V)
- D♭ Melodic Minor (V)
- D♭ Natural Minor (V)
- E♭ Blues (deg 3)
- E♭ Minor Pentatonic (deg 3)
- E♭ Natural Minor (IV)
- F♯ Major (II)
- F♯ Major Pentatonic (deg 2)
- A♭ Dorian (I)
- A♭ Locrian (I)
- A♭ Mixolydian (I)
- A♭ Phrygian (I)
- B Lydian (VI)
- B♭ Locrian (VII)
- B♭ Phrygian (VII)
- C Locrian (VI)
- D♭ Dorian (V)
- D♭ Locrian (V)
- D♭ Mixolydian (V)
- D♭ Phrygian (V)
- E Lydian (III)
- E♭ Dorian (IV)
- E♭ Locrian (IV)
- E♭ Phrygian (IV)
- F Locrian (III)
- F Phrygian (III)
- F♯ Lydian (II)
- F♯ Mixolydian (II)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. Roman numeral marks the chord root’s position in the scale; dashed badges aren’t linked yet.