A♭9sus4
A♭9sus4
Notes
A♭ · D♭ · E♭ · G♭ · B♭
Intervals
- RootA♭ (1P)
- Perfect 4thD♭ (4P)
- Perfect 5thE♭ (5P)
- Minor 7thG♭ (7m)
- Major 9thB♭ (9M)
Fretboard
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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♭ Dorian (I)
- A♭ Mixolydian (I)
- A♭ Natural Minor (I)
- B Lydian (VI)
- B Major (VI)
- B♭ Locrian (VII)
- B♭ Natural Minor (VII)
- B♭ Phrygian (VII)
- C Locrian (VI)
- D♭ Dorian (V)
- D♭ Major (V)
- D♭ Melodic Minor (V)
- D♭ Mixolydian (V)
- E Lydian (III)
- E♭ Blues (deg 3)
- E♭ Dorian (IV)
- E♭ Minor Pentatonic (deg 3)
- E♭ Natural Minor (IV)
- E♭ Phrygian (IV)
- F Locrian (III)
- F Phrygian (III)
- F♯ Lydian (II)
- F♯ Major (II)
- F♯ Major Pentatonic (deg 2)
- F♯ Mixolydian (II)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.