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Absus2 Chord

Absus2 uses B flat instead of a third. Without that major-or-minor note, the chord leaves its quality open until the next chord supplies more context.

  • Notes: A flat-B flat-E flat
  • Symbol: Absus2
  • Isus2 in Ab major
  • Second instead of third
Switch chordAbsus2

How to play an Absus2 chord

Notes: Ab - Bb - Eb · symbol Absus2

  • Root position

    Ab - Bb - Eb
    C4
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    Bb - Eb - Ab
    C4
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    Eb - Ab - Bb
    C4
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does Absus2 belong?

The second replaces the third, so Absus2 can briefly interrupt a major chord without introducing a new root.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In Ab majorOpen color
    Isus2

    Without a third the chord is neither major nor minor: open and unresolved.

    AbIAbsus2Isus2AbI
  • In Eb majorAiry step away
    IVsus2

    An open-sounding IV in Eb major.

    EbIAbsus2IVsus2BbVEbI

Progressions to try

  • AbAbsus2Ab

    The chord moves from Ab to Absus2 and back, so you can hear the missing third return.

  • EbAbsus2BbEb

    Here Absus2 colors the IV chord before the loop continues to V and back home.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with xx6896, played at the 6th fret. The barre shape x-11-13-13-11-11, at the 11th fret, moves the chord up the neck and sits well between other barre chords.

On ukulele, start with 1341, played at the 1st fret. 8866 gives a higher version.

On piano, play A flat-B flat-E flat. Move A flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, B flat-E flat-A flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

A flat is the root, B flat the second and E flat the fifth. There is no third in this chord.

  • Root position: A flat-B flat-E flat, with A flat lowest.
  • First inversion: B flat-E flat-A flat, written Absus2/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: E flat-A flat-B flat, written Absus2/Eb if E flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Absus2 differ from Ab?

Keep A flat and E flat; replace the second, B flat, with the major third, C, to make Ab. A sus2 chord does not keep the third alongside the second. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Ab for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Absus2

    Ab - Bb - Eb
    C4

    Ab sus2

  • Ab

    Ab - C - Eb
    C4

    Ab major

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