Also written E♭sus2 or E♭
E♭ suspended 2nd contains E♭, F, and B♭. The default voicing places F in the bass, which gives the chord a soft, second-inversion float.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The Major 2nd between E♭ and F replaces the third, creating an open, unresolved quality. Compare with E♭ major, which uses a Major 3rd instead.
E♭ suspended 2nd works as a passing chord in E♭ major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression: E♭ major–A♭ major–B♭ major–E♭ major. Its open sound suits ballads, R&B, and ambient bass lines.
The 1st-fret voicing puts F in the bass, which is useful when the chord needs to lead to B♭. The 6th-fret voicing puts B♭ in the bass and is easier to reach in mid-neck positions.
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 1 3: barre your index finger across fret 1 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3.
Tip — The index barre must hold three strings at the 1st fret while the pinky stretches to the 3rd fret on the G string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | F (2) |
| 3 (A) | 1 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 4 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 13th fret as 13 13 13 15: barre your index finger across fret 13 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 15.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 (barre) | F (2) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 15 | 4 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 8 8: index finger on the E string at fret 6, middle finger on the A string at fret 8, ring finger on the D string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 2 | F (2) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ suspended 2nd is written as E♭sus2 or E♭. On a keyboard, type Eb because the ♭ symbol is not available. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ suspended 2nd replaces the third with a Major 2nd (F), while E♭ suspended 4th replaces it with a Perfect 4th (A♭). The sus2 sounds brighter and more open; the sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve.
E♭ suspended 2nd omits the third entirely, leaving E♭, F, and B♭. E♭ add 9 includes the major third (G) along with the ninth (F), so it has a fuller, more consonant sound.