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A♭ suspended 4th chord on ukulele (A♭sus4)
Also called or written A♭sus4, A♭sus or A♭ Suspended
A♭ suspended 4th is built from A♭, D♭, and E♭. The default voicing mutes the E string and uses three fingers, making it a moderate challenge.
How it is built
Formula 1, 4, 5
How do you play an A♭ suspended 4th chord on ukulele?
A♭ suspended 4th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 × 6: index finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 8 and middle finger on the A string at fret 6. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (4) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 3 | A♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 2 | E♭ (5) |
IntermediateMuting the E string while fretting the G and A strings at fret 6 and the C string at fret 8 requires precise finger placement.
A♭sus4/E♭ inversion
A♭ suspended 4th is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 4 4: index finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 2 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 3 | D♭ (4) |
8th fret
A♭ suspended 4th is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 9 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 8, middle finger on the C string at fret 8 and ring finger on the E string at fret 9. The A string stays muted.
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) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
The formula 1, 4, 5 replaces the third with a perfect fourth, removing major or minor quality. The fourth interval creates the suspended sound. Compare with A♭ major, which has C instead of D♭.
What goes wrong with A♭ suspended 4th?
- Let the E string ring open, adding a note that is not in the chord.
- Flatten the ring finger onto the E string, deadening it.
When to use it
A♭ suspended 4th works as a tonic substitute in A♭ major, often in the I–IV–V–I progression: A♭–D♭–E♭–A♭. It suits pop and rock where the suspension adds motion. Use it before a A♭ major to create a lift.
Changing to and from A♭ suspended 4th
- Slide the whole shape up one fret to the 7th fret to play A suspended 4th.
Which voicing to use
The A♭sus4/C♯ inversion has D♭ in the bass and is the default voicing. The A♭sus4/D♯ inversions place E♭ in the bass, adding tension that wants to resolve upward.
Other A♭ chords
Common questions
How is A♭ suspended 4th written?
A♭ suspended 4th is written A♭sus or A♭sus4. The ASCII root is Ab, so Absus and Absus4 are also used. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between A♭sus4 and A♭sus2?
A♭sus4 replaces the third with a fourth (D♭), while A♭sus2 replaces it with a second (B♭). A♭sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve to the major third.
Can I use A♭ suspended 4th in place of A♭ major?
Yes, but only when the melody does not need the major third. The suspension creates a floating quality that resolves when you return to A♭ major.