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A♭ 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele (A♭7sus4)
Also called or written A♭7sus4, A♭ or A♭ Dominant 7th Suspended 4th
A♭ 7th suspended 4th contains A♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭. The default voicing stretches the fretting hand across four frets, making it a demanding shape for ukulele.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play an A♭ 7th suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
A♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 4 6: middle finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 2 | D♭ (4) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | G♭ (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (5) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 6 on the 1st string while the index holds fret 4 on the 2nd, requiring a wide stretch.
8th fret
A♭ 7th suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 9 9: index finger on the G string at fret 8, middle finger on the C string at fret 8, ring finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 3 | D♭ (4) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 4 | G♭ (♭7) |
Why it sounds like that
A♭ 7th suspended 4th is built from the formula 1, 4, 5, ♭7. The perfect 4th between A♭ and D♭ replaces the major 3rd, suspending the chord. Compare it to A♭ suspended 4th, which omits the minor 7th G♭.
What goes wrong with A♭ 7th suspended 4th?
- The 2nd string buzzes because the index finger is not close enough to the fret.
- The 1st string is muted by the pinky collapsing onto it.
- The 4th string sounds dull because the middle finger is not pressing firmly.
When to use it
A♭ 7th suspended 4th suits gospel, soul, and rock styles. Compare it to A♭ minor to hear the difference in color.
Changing to and from A♭ 7th suspended 4th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 4th fret gives F♯ 7th suspended 4th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 5th fret gives G 7th suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The D♭ inversion places the 4th in the bass, giving a grounded sound. The E♭ inversion, with the 5th in the bass, is brighter and more open. Choose the D♭ inversion for a fuller voicing.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ 7th suspended 4th written?
A♭ 7th suspended 4th is written A♭7sus4 or A♭. On a keyboard, use Ab7sus4. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭7sus4 and A♭7?
A♭7sus4 replaces the major 3rd C with the perfect 4th D♭. This removes the leading tone and creates a suspended, unresolved sound.
Can A♭7sus4 be used in place of A♭7?
Yes, A♭7sus4 often substitutes for A♭7 in dominant contexts. The suspension delays the resolution to the tonic chord.