Bb Suspended Fourth Guitar Chord Charts & Variations
Welcome to our in-depth tutorial on the Bb sus4 chord. This chord, like all suspended chords, lacks a major or minor third, creating a unique, open sound. The Bb sus4 is composed of the notes Bb, Eb, and F, and is built using the intervals 1 (Root), 4 (Perfect Fourth), and 5 (Perfect Fifth).
Understanding the structure of this chord can be made easier by delving into music theory, specifically the concept of intervals. Each chord is built by stacking specific intervals, which in the case of Bb sus4, are the Root, Perfect Fourth, and Perfect Fifth. If you need a refresher on intervals, our fretboard intervals tutorial is a great resource.
Suspended chords like Bb sus4 are a fantastic way to add variety and tension to your playing. If you're interested in learning more about these types of chords, check out our suspended guitar chords tutorial.
Our tutorial will guide you through how to play this chord, complete with chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to visually illustrate the composition of the Bb sus4 chord. We'll also provide tips on how to incorporate this chord into your playing, whether you're a beginner or a more advanced player. For those interested in the notation of chords depending on the intervals that compose it, we highly recommend our guitar chords notation tutorial.
Get ready to expand your chord vocabulary and bring a new sound to your guitar playing with the Bb sus4 chord!
Notes in the Bb sus4 chord:
How the Suspended Fourth chord is built:
Bbsus4 Guitar Chord Fingers Positions
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Barre
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Position 2
Barre
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Position 3
Barre
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Position 4
Barre
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FAQ
What notes are in a Bb sus4 chord?
The Bb sus4 chord is composed of the notes Bb, Eb, and F. These notes correspond to the 1st (Root), 4th (Perfect Fourth), and 5th (Perfect Fifth) intervals, respectively, when starting from Bb as the root.
What does 'sus4' mean in the Bb sus4 chord?
The 'sus4' in Bb sus4 stands for 'suspended fourth'. It indicates that the chord lacks the traditional major or minor third. Instead, the perfect fourth (Eb in this case) is used in place of the third, creating a unique, open sound.
How is a Bb sus4 chord different from a regular Bb major or minor chord?
The key difference lies in the third interval. Regular major and minor chords contain either a major third or a minor third, which defines their quality. A Bb sus4 chord replaces this third with a perfect fourth (Eb), which gives it its characteristic 'suspended' quality and open sound, rather than a definitively major or minor feel.
Why would a guitarist use a Bb sus4 chord in their playing?
Guitarists use suspended chords like Bb sus4 to add variety and tension to their music. The absence of a major or minor third creates an ambiguous, 'open' sound that can resolve to a major or minor chord, or simply provide a unique sonic texture.
What intervals are used to build the Bb sus4 chord?
The Bb sus4 chord is built using three specific intervals: the 1 (Root), the 4 (Perfect Fourth), and the 5 (Perfect Fifth). These intervals are stacked above the root note (Bb) to form the chord structure.