E Suspended 4th
Esus4
Notes
E · A · B
Intervals
- RootE (1P)
- Perfect 4thA (4P)
- Perfect 5thB (5P)
Fretboard
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About
The Esus4 chord (E–A–B) also replaces the third — this time with a perfect fourth. The fourth has a stronger gravitational pull than the second; in common-practice harmony it traditionally resolves downward to the third, making sus4 feel more like a delayed resolution than a neutral color. This makes it effective for rhythmic tension and release, especially in rock and gospel. The A typically resolves to either E (third raised) or Em (third lowered). On guitar the modification is often a single-finger addition or movement from a major shape; the fourth is the defining tone and must be present. Compared to Esus2, sus4 has a clearer sense of wanting to land somewhere.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- E Blues (deg 1)
- E Harmonic Minor (I)
- E Major (I)
- E Melodic Minor (I)
- E Minor Pentatonic (deg 1)
- E Natural Minor (I)
- A Harmonic Minor (V)
- A Major (V)
- A Major Pentatonic (deg 4)
- A Melodic Minor (V)
- A Natural Minor (V)
- B Blues (deg 3)
- B Minor Pentatonic (deg 3)
- B Natural Minor (IV)
- C Major (III)
- D Major (II)
- D Major Pentatonic (deg 2)
- D Melodic Minor (II)
- F♯ Blues (deg 6)
- F♯ Minor Pentatonic (deg 5)
- F♯ Natural Minor (VII)
- G Major (VI)
- G Major Pentatonic (deg 5)
- E Dorian (I)
- E Mixolydian (I)
- E Phrygian (I)
- A Dorian (V)
- A Lydian (V)
- A Mixolydian (V)
- B Dorian (IV)
- B Locrian (IV)
- B Mixolydian (IV)
- B Phrygian (IV)
- C Lydian (III)
- D Dorian (II)
- D Lydian (II)
- D Mixolydian (II)
- F Lydian (VII)
- F♯ Dorian (VII)
- F♯ Locrian (VII)
- F♯ Phrygian (VII)
- G Lydian (VI)
- G Mixolydian (VI)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. Roman numeral marks the chord root’s position in the scale; dashed badges aren’t linked yet.