Tools / Chords / B♭ 7th suspended 4th

B♭ 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar (B♭7sus4)

Also written B♭7sus4, B♭ or B♭ Dominant 7th Suspended 4th

B♭ 7th suspended 4th contains B♭, E♭, F and A♭. The default voicing is a full six-string barre at the 6th fret, with the pinky stretching to the 8th fret on the G string.

6th fret · 6-6-6-8-6-66-6-6-8-6-6

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

B♭1Root

E♭4Perfect 4th

F5Perfect 5th

A♭♭7Minor 7th

Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionB♭–E♭–F–A♭B♭7sus4Bass B♭

First inversionE♭–F–A♭–B♭B♭7sus4/E♭Bass E♭

Second inversionF–A♭–B♭–E♭B♭7sus4/FBass F

Third inversionA♭–B♭–E♭–FB♭7sus4/A♭Bass A♭

Why it sounds like that

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between B♭ and E♭ replaces the major 3rd, suspending the chord. Compare it to B♭ suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th.

What goes wrong with B♭ 7th suspended 4th?

Buzzing on the B or high E string because the barre is uneven.
Letting the pinky flatten and touch the D or B string, muting them.

When to use it

B♭ 7th suspended 4th works as the V chord in E♭ major, resolving to E♭ major in a I–IV–V–I progression. It also fits B♭ minor and B♭ 5th contexts. The suspended 4th creates tension before a resolution to B♭ major.

Changing to and from B♭ 7th suspended 4th

Move to B♭ minor by lifting the pinky and placing it on the G string at the 6th fret, while keeping the barre at the 6th fret.

Which voicing to use

The 6th fret barre voicing is the default and keeps B♭ in the bass. The B♭7sus4/E♭ inversion at the 6th fret puts E♭ in the bass, softening the root. Choose the root-position shape for a firm foundation.

How do you play a B♭ 7th suspended 4th chord on guitar?

6th fret · 6-6-6-8-6-6

Barre● On the diagram

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 6th fret as 6 6 6 8 6 6: barre your index finger across fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.

Tip — The index finger must barre all six strings at the 6th fret while the pinky reaches the 8th fret on the G string, requiring strength and stretch.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	6	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)
5 (A)	6	1 (barre)	E♭ (4)
4 (D)	6	1 (barre)	A♭ (♭7)
3 (G)	8	4	E♭ (4)
2 (B)	6	1 (barre)	F (5)
1 (e)	6	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)

6th fret · 6-8-6-8-6-6

Barre

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 6 8 6 6: barre your index finger across fret 6, ring finger on the A string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	6	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)
5 (A)	8	3	F (5)
4 (D)	6	1 (barre)	A♭ (♭7)
3 (G)	8	4	E♭ (4)
2 (B)	6	1 (barre)	F (5)
1 (e)	6	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)

B♭7sus4/E♭ inversion · fret 6

Barre

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 6th fret as × 6 6 8 6 6: barre your index finger across fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	6	1 (barre)	E♭ (4)
4 (D)	6	1 (barre)	A♭ (♭7)
3 (G)	8	4	E♭ (4)
2 (B)	6	1 (barre)	F (5)
1 (e)	6	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)

B♭7sus4/E♭ inversion · fret 11

Barre

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 11th fret as 11 11 13 13 11 13: barre your index finger across fret 11, middle finger on the D string at fret 13, ring finger on the G string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 13.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	11	1 (barre)	E♭ (4)
5 (A)	11	1 (barre)	A♭ (♭7)
4 (D)	13	2	E♭ (4)
3 (G)	13	3	A♭ (♭7)
2 (B)	11	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)
1 (e)	13	4	F (5)

B♭7sus4/F inversion

Barre

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 1 1 × ×: barre your index finger across fret 1. The B and high e strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	1	1 (barre)	F (5)
5 (A)	1	1 (barre)	B♭ (1)
4 (D)	1	1 (barre)	E♭ (4)
3 (G)	1	1 (barre)	A♭ (♭7)
2 (B)	muted	—	—
1 (e)	muted	—	—

Common questions

How do I write B♭ 7th suspended 4th?

B♭ 7th suspended 4th is written B♭7sus4 or Bb7sus4. The ASCII root is Bb. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.

What mistake do players make with the B♭7sus4 barre?

The pinky often fails to press the G string at the 8th fret cleanly, causing a muted note. Keep the pinky arched and close to the fret.

How does B♭7sus4 differ from B♭ minor 7th?

B♭7sus4 replaces the minor 3rd D♭ with the perfect 4th E♭. B♭ minor 7th contains D♭, while B♭7sus4 contains E♭, creating a suspended sound.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

E♭ (4)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

A♭ (♭7)

3 (G)

E♭ (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

5 (A)

F (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

A♭ (♭7)

3 (G)

E♭ (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

E♭ (4)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

A♭ (♭7)

3 (G)

E♭ (4)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F (5)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

E♭ (4)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

A♭ (♭7)

4 (D)

E♭ (4)

3 (G)

A♭ (♭7)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

1 (e)

F (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

F (5)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B♭ (1)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E♭ (4)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

A♭ (♭7)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

muted

—