Explore chords · Bass
E suspended 4th chord on bass (Esus4)
Also called or written Esus4, Esus or E Suspended
E suspended 4th contains E, A, and B. The open position uses a one-finger barre across the 2nd fret, making it a beginner-friendly shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
How do you play an E suspended 4th chord on bass?
E suspended 4th is played in open position as 0 2 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 2. The E string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 1 (barre) | A (4) |
BeginnerThe index barre must fret three strings cleanly at the 2nd fret while the open 4th string rings.
12th fret
E suspended 4th is played at the 12th fret as 12 14 14 14: index finger on the E string at fret 12, middle finger on the A string at fret 14, ring finger on the D string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 2 | B (5) |
| 2 (D) | 14 | 3 | E (1) |
| 1 (G) | 14 | 4 | A (4) |
Esus4/B inversion
E suspended 4th is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 7 9: barre your index finger across fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 (barre) | A (4) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5 — the root E, the perfect fourth A, and the perfect fifth B. The fourth replaces the third, which removes the major or minor quality and leaves an open, unresolved sound. Compare it with E major, where the third is G♯.
What goes wrong with E suspended 4th?
- Letting the index finger lift off the 1st string, causing a dead note.
- Pressing too hard and bending the strings sharp.
- Allowing the open 4th string to be muted by the palm.
When to use it
E suspended 4th works as a suspended colour in E major progressions like E–A–B–E, the I–IV–V–I, where it delays the resolution of E major. It also fits folk, pop, and rock when a chord needs to hover before landing.
Changing to and from E suspended 4th
- Move to E major by lifting the index finger and placing it on the 3rd string, 1st fret while keeping the 4th string open.
Which voicing to use
The open position puts E in the bass for a rooted, stable sound. The Esus4/B inversion places B in the bass, which softens the chord and works well when the bass line is descending toward A.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E suspended 4th written?
E suspended 4th is written as Esus or Esus4. The symbol Esus4 specifies the fourth explicitly, while Esus assumes it.
What is the difference between E suspended 4th and E suspended 2nd?
E suspended 4th replaces the third with the fourth, A. E suspended 2nd replaces the third with the second, F♯, creating an even more open sound.
Can E suspended 4th resolve to E minor?
Yes, E suspended 4th can resolve to E minor by moving the fourth down a half step to the minor third, G. This resolution is common in classical and folk music.