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A sus4 chord (Asus4)

A sus4 is a 3-note sus4 chord: A – D – E. It sounds suspended, eager to return to the major chord. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

  • NotesA – D – E
  • Formula1 – 4 – 5
  • SymbolAsus4 · Asus
  • TypeSus4 chord

A sus4 on guitar

  • ×123AEADE
    Open position
  • 5123411AEADEA
    Barre at fret 5 (E shape)

How to place your fingers (open position)

  1. Finger 1 (index) on fret 2 of string 4 (D).
  2. Finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of the 3rd string (G).
  3. Finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of the 2nd string (B).
  4. The 5th and 1st strings are played open.
  5. Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (A). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

A sus4 on piano

ADE

In root position, play A – D – E from bottom to top with fingers 1, 3 and 5 of your right hand (thumb, middle and pinky). With your left hand you usually play just the root (A) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

  • First inversion: D – E – A
  • Second inversion: E – A – D

A sus4 on ukulele

  • ADEA
    Open position
  • 2AEAD
    From fret 2

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of A sus4

  • A1 · root
  • D4 · perfect fourth
  • E5 · perfect fifth

It usually resolves to the major chord with the same root (Xsus4 → X): a classic embellishment in strumming and endings.

Progressions with Asus4

Suspend and resolve: Isus4 – I

Asus4 usually resolves to A: you change just one note and the chord “settles”.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A suspended 4 chord?

A suspended 4 (Asus4) has 3 notes: A (root), D (perfect fourth), E (perfect fifth).

How do you play A suspended 4 on guitar?

The easiest shape is in open position: x 0 2 2 3 0 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Place finger 1 (index) on fret 2 of the 4th string (D). Finger 2 (middle) goes on fret 2 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 3 (ring) goes on fret 3 of the 2nd string (B). The 5th and 1st strings are played open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

How do you write A suspended 4 in chord notation?

It's written Asus4; you'll also see Asus. Letter notation names the notes C, D, E, F, G, A and B.

Want to play whole songs?

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