Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
A flat sus4 chord (A♭sus4) — guitar chord chart
A♭sus4 is a sus4 chord built on A♭. Its notes are A♭, D♭, E♭. The 4th replaces the 3rd and pulls back towards the major chord, so sus4 is often played just before it for movement. It’s also written G♯sus4.
A♭sus4 chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play A♭sus4
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 4, from the 6th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Middle (2) on the 5th string, fret 6 (E♭).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 6 (A♭).
- Little finger (4) on the 3rd string, fret 6 (C♯).
- Strum all six strings.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open Gsus4 shape — it sounds as A♭sus4. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in A♭sus4
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | root |
| 4 | D♭ | perfect 4th |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th |
Progressions with A♭sus4
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the A♭sus4 chord?
- A♭sus4 (A flat sus4) has 3 notes: A♭, D♭, E♭.
- Is A♭sus4 hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Gsus4 shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between A♭sus4 and A♭?
- A♭ is A♭ C E♭. The 4th replaces the 3rd and pulls back towards the major chord, so sus4 is often played just before it for movement.
- Is A♭sus4 the same as G♯sus4?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.