Ways to play Asus4
Open position first, then up the neck. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in Asus4
A suspended 4th swaps the 3rd for the 4th: Asus4 is A, D, E. The 4th (D) sits a half step above the major 3rd (C♯) and wants to fall onto it.
| Note | Formula | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Root |
| D | 4 | Perfect 4th |
| E | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Tense in a way that asks to resolve. The classic move is sus4 to major on the same root, which you'll hear at the end of hymns and in plenty of rock intros.
Keys that use Asus4
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of A, D and E, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | Asus4 is the |
|---|---|
| A major | Isus4 |
| A minor | Isus4 |
| E minor | IVsus4 |
| D major | Vsus4 |
| D minor | Vsus4 |
| G major | IIsus4 |
| C major | VIsus4 |
| F major | IIIsus4 |
| F♯ minor | IIIsus4 |
| B minor | VIIsus4 |
Progressions to try
Related chords
Other chords on A: