Explore chords · Ukulele
E♭ suspended 2nd chord on ukulele (E♭sus2)
Also called or written E♭sus2 or E♭
E♭ suspended 2nd contains E♭, F, and B♭. The 1st fret shape mutes the G string and requires a stretch across three frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionE♭–F–B♭E♭sus2×-3-1-1
- First inversionF–B♭–E♭E♭sus2/F×-5-6-6
- Second inversionB♭–E♭–FE♭sus2/B♭10-10-11-×
How do you play an E♭ suspended 2nd chord on ukulele?
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 1st fret as × 3 1 1: ring finger on the C string at fret 3, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (2) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
IntermediateThe ring finger must reach fret 3 on the C string while the index and middle hold fret 1 cleanly.
E♭sus2/F inversion
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 5th fret as × 5 6 6: index finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 | F (2) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
E♭sus2/B♭ inversion
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 11 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 10, middle finger on the C string at fret 10 and ring finger on the E string at fret 11. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (2) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
1st fret · 3-3-1-1
E♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 1st fret as 3 3 1 1: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 3, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (2) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The major 2nd between E♭ and F replaces the major 3rd of E♭ major, creating an open, unresolved sound. The perfect 5th anchors the chord.
What goes wrong with E♭ suspended 2nd?
- Letting the G string ring out; mute it with the fretting-hand thumb.
- Pressing the E string too hard and bending it sharp.
- Collapsing the ring finger onto the C string fret 3 and deadening the E string.
When to use it
E♭ suspended 2nd works as a passing chord in E♭ major progressions like E♭–A♭–B♭–E♭ (I–IV–V–I). It suits rock and pop strumming where the suspended 2nd adds tension before resolution. Use it before E♭ major to delay the tonic.
Changing to and from E♭ suspended 2nd
- Move to E♭ major by lifting the index finger from the E string and placing it on the C string fret 3, keeping the middle finger on the A string fret 1.
- Slide the whole shape up one fret to the 2nd fret to play E suspended 2nd.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret shape puts E♭ in the bass and is the most direct voicing. The E♭sus2/B♭ inversion at frets 3-3-1-1 gives a lower, darker sound with B♭ in the bass. Choose the E♭sus2/F inversion when you want the 2nd in the bass for a suspended feel.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ suspended 2nd written?
E♭ suspended 2nd is written E♭sus2 or E♭. On a keyboard, use Eb as the ASCII root. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
How does E♭ suspended 2nd differ from E♭ add 9?
E♭ suspended 2nd replaces the 3rd with the 2nd, so it has no major or minor quality. E♭ add 9 keeps the major 3rd and adds the 2nd on top, giving a fuller major sound.
Can E♭ suspended 2nd resolve to E♭ minor?
Yes, E♭ suspended 2nd can resolve to E♭ minor because the 2nd (F) moves down to the minor 3rd (G♭). The lack of a 3rd in the sus2 makes the resolution smooth.