B suspended fourth chord (Bsus4)
The B suspended fourth chord (Bsus4) is a suspended chord: B, E and F♯ (root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth). It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor.
It is the Isus4 in B major and the Vsus4 in E major, and it usually resolves to the major or minor chord on the same root.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play B suspended fourth on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-4-4-5-2, barre at fret 2, with B in the bass (fingers x-1-2-3-4-1).
- Voicing 2: 7-9-9-9-7-7, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 7, with B in the bass.
Notes of the B suspended fourth chord on the fretboard
B suspended fourth has 3 notes: B, E and F♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · F♯ (2) · B (7) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · E (7) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · F♯ (4) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): B (4) · E (9) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · E (5) · F♯ (7) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · F♯ (2) · B (7) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of B suspended fourth
Its formula is 1-4-5; in semitones from the root, 0-5-7.
- B: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- E: Perfect fourth (P4), 5 semitones above B
- F♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above B
B suspended fourth on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 4-4-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds B, E, F♯ and B.
B suspended fourth on piano
- Keys: B4, E5 and F♯5.
Inversions of B suspended fourth
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, E and F♯, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (Bsus4/E): E, F♯ and B, with E in the bass.
- Second inversion (Bsus4/F♯): F♯, B and E, with F♯ in the bass.
Keys that use B suspended fourth
B suspended fourth appears in 10 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B major (5 sharps) | Isus4 | Tonic |
| A major (3 sharps) | IIsus4 | Supertonic |
| G major (1 sharp) | IIIsus4 | Mediant |
| E major (4 sharps) | Vsus4 | Dominant |
| D major (2 sharps) | VIsus4 | Submediant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | Isus4 | Tonic |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | IIIsus4 | Mediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | IVsus4 | Subdominant |
| E minor (1 sharp) | Vsus4 | Dominant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | VIIsus4 | Subtonic |
Progressions with B suspended fourth
- Sus4 resolution in B major (Isus4–I): Bsus4 – B
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B suspended fourth chord?
B, E and F♯: root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-4-5.
Which keys use B suspended fourth?
Mainly as the Isus4 in B major and the Vsus4 in E major. In total it appears in 10 major and minor keys.
What does “sus” mean in B suspended fourth?
That the chord is suspended: the third is replaced by another note, leaving B, E and F♯ (root, perfect fourth and perfect fifth). Without a third, it can move to either the major or the minor triad on the same root.