E♭ Sus4 Triads on Guitar: Every Inversion on Every String Set
A E♭ sus4 triad is E♭, A♭ and B♭ (1 4 5). It has three arrangements, root position, first inversion and second inversion, and each can be played on four groups of three strings: all twelve shapes are below.
Keys
Triads — E♭sus4
Root position
First inversion
Second inversion
All inversions
The notes of E♭sus4
E♭ sus4 is a perfect fourth (five frets) and then a major second, with no third at all. Root position puts E♭ at the bottom (E♭, A♭ and B♭); first inversion puts A♭ at the bottom (A♭, B♭ and E♭); second inversion puts B♭ at the bottom (B♭, E♭ and A♭).
It's the same pitch as Dsus4; this page uses E♭ because it's spelled with fewer sharps or flats.
E♭sus4 replaces the third with the fourth, A♭. With no third it is neither major nor minor; the fourth wants to fall a semitone or a tone to the third, which is why E♭sus4 so often resolves to E♭ or E♭m.
E♭sus4 on every string set
On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 8–11, first inversion at frets 1–4 and second inversion at fret 6.
On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 3–6, first inversion at frets 8–11 and second inversion at fret 1.
On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 11–13, first inversion at frets 3–6 and second inversion at frets 8–9.
On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 6–9, first inversion at frets 11–13 and second inversion at frets 3–4.
Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes
The practice pad above shows E♭sus4's triads inside each CAGED shape. Use the R, 2, 3 and V switches to see each arrangement:
- Root position: C shape (fret 3), A shape (fret 6), G shape (fret 8) and E shape (fret 11).
- First inversion: C shape (fret 3), G shape (fret 8) and E shape (fret 11).
- Second inversion: C shape (fret 3), A shape (fret 8) and E shape (fret 1).
Where E♭sus4 appears
E♭sus4 isn't built on the scale's thirds, so it isn't a diatonic chord in the usual sense, but all three of its notes fit 12 keys: D♭ major (on the 2nd degree), E♭ major (on the 1st degree), F major (on the 6th degree), A♭ major (on the 5th degree) and B major (on the 3rd degree), and C minor (3rd), E♭ minor (1st), F minor (7th), G minor (5th) and B♭ minor (4th).
None of them is one of the open-string guitar keys (C, G, D, A, E and their relative minors), so E♭sus4 is more often met in piano-led songs, horn arrangements and with a capo.
Open strings and capo options for E♭sus4
No open string is a note of E♭sus4, so every voicing on this page is fully fretted and there's nothing to let ring.
Closely related chords
A sus chord is a pause before major or minor: E♭sus4 keeps the root and fifth and moves the third, so its closest chords share the same root.
E♭sus4 triad FAQs
What notes are in a E♭ sus4 triad?
E♭, A♭ and B♭. The formula is 1 4 5.
What is the first inversion of E♭sus4?
A♭, B♭ and E♭, with A♭ in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 13, fret 11 and fret 11.
Is E♭sus4 major or minor?
Neither. It has no third: the fourth, A♭, takes its place, which is why it sounds open and unresolved.
Related
Learn more
How to use guitar triads explains inversions and how to use them in rhythm parts and solos, and triads on all string sets goes through each set in turn. The triad library has every chord.