The Absus2 chord contains A♭, B♭ and E♭. Also written A♭sus2, it uses formula 1–2–5. B♭ replaces the third C of A♭ major, leaving a three-note suspended collection.
Build the Absus2 chord by keeping A♭ and E♭ from A♭ major and replacing C with B♭. A♭–B♭ spans two semitones, while A♭–E♭ spans seven. Neither C nor C♭ belongs to this suspended collection; the third is absent rather than lowered.
Preserve the written note spelling shown for this chord.
Choose a position to keep the written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
Build the Absus2 chord with A♭, B♭ and E♭. D♭ instead of B♭ gives Absus4. Adding C would supply the third and make a four-note collection, rather than the suspended triad requested by this exercise.
A♭sus2 uses 1–2–5: A♭–B♭–E♭.
Compared with A♭ major, replace the third with the second.
The chord tones stay the same while the lowest chord tone changes.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | A♭sus2 | A♭3–B♭3–E♭4 | A♭3 |
| First inversion | A♭sus2/B♭ | B♭3–E♭4–A♭4 | B♭3 |
| Second inversion | A♭sus2/E♭ | E♭4–A♭4–B♭4 | E♭4 |
The Absus2 chord diagrams show keys, octaves and note order without finger numbers. B♭ begins the first inversion and E♭ the second. All three pitch classes use black keys on the piano; choose a comfortable placement rather than treating the diagram as a hand shape.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersPianoChord.org
Supports: sus2 chord formula and written tone pattern
Scope: Supports the chord formula and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
A♭, B♭ and E♭: root, major second and perfect fifth. There is no third in this collection.
The Absus2 chord uses B♭, the second above A♭. Absus4 uses D♭, the fourth. Both retain A♭ and E♭ and omit the third.
No. The Absus2 chord omits C. The full Abadd9 collection includes A♭, C, E♭ and B♭. The extra third changes the note set even if B♭ is placed in a different octave.
B♭ and E♭ begin the first and second inversions. Root position begins on A♭. Use the selector to compare the written bass and the low-to-high note order.
Select the three pitch classes that make A♭sus2, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks pitch classes. Order and octave do not affect the result; fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: A♭–B♭–E♭ · Formula: 1, 2, 5
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.