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A suspended 4th chord on bass (Asus4)
Also called or written Asus4, Asus or A Suspended
A suspended 4th contains A, D, and E. The 5th-fret shape spreads across four strings and needs a clean three-fret reach.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
How do you play an A suspended 4th chord on bass?
A suspended 4th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 7 7: index finger on the E string at fret 5, middle finger on the A string at fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (5) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 3 | A (1) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (4) |
IntermediateThe three-fret stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string demands a wide hand span.
Asus4/E inversion · open position
A suspended 4th is played in open position as 0 0 0 2: index finger on the G string at fret 2. The E, A and D strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | open | — | E (5) |
| 3 (A) | open | — | A (1) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (4) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (1) |
Asus4/E inversion · fret 12
A suspended 4th is played at the 12th fret as 12 12 12 14: barre your index finger across fret 12 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (5) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 1 (barre) | A (1) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 1 (barre) | D (4) |
| 1 (G) | 14 | 4 | A (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5 — the root A, the perfect fourth D, and the perfect fifth E. The fourth replaces the third, which removes the major or minor quality and leaves an open, unresolved sound. Compare it with A major, where the third is C♯.
What goes wrong with A suspended 4th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the 1st string.
- Pressing the middle finger too flat and deadening the 2nd string.
- Rushing the shift so the index lands short of the 5th fret.
When to use it
A suspended 4th works as a suspended colour in A major progressions like A–D–E–A, the I–IV–V–I, where it delays the resolution of A major. It also fits folk, rock, and pop when a chord needs to hover before landing.
Changing to and from A suspended 4th
- Move to A major by lifting the middle finger and placing it on the 3rd string, 6th fret while keeping the index and ring in place.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 3rd fret to reach G suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The 5th-fret shape puts A in the bass for a rooted, stable sound. The Asus4/E inversion places E in the bass, which softens the chord and works well when the bass line is descending toward D.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A suspended 4th written?
A suspended 4th is written as Asus or Asus4. The symbol Asus4 specifies the fourth explicitly, while Asus assumes it.
What is the difference between A suspended 4th and A suspended 2nd?
A suspended 4th replaces the third with the fourth, D. A suspended 2nd replaces the third with the second, B, creating an even more open sound.
Can A suspended 4th resolve to A minor?
Yes, A suspended 4th can resolve to A minor by moving the fourth down a half step to the minor third, C. This resolution is common in classical and folk music.