Learn to Play E Sus 4
What notes are in e sus 4?
The e sus 4 chord (Esus4) is built from the notes E, A, B — root, perfect 4th, perfect 5th.
Esus4
Replace the 3rd with the perfect 4th: root, perfect 4th, perfect 5th. Two stacked seconds at the top give it its clenched, ringing quality.
How does e sus 4 sound?
Suspended, expectant, slightly heroic. The 4th leans on the missing 3rd so strongly you can hear the resolution before it happens.
The classic pre-resolution chord: Gsus4 → G before a cadence is centuries old. It delays the dominant's 3rd (the leading tone), making the arrival stronger.
Where do you use Esus4?
Esus4 → E is the classic suspension: in the key of A, hold Esus4 as the V chord for a beat before releasing it into E — the cadence lands twice as hard.
E is the guitar's home key — blues-rock jams gravitate here, and piano players get dragged along, so make this shape automatic.
"Pinball Wizard", every arena-rock intro that hangs on a sus chord, and hymn cadences (the 4-3 suspension is the oldest trick in written harmony).
How do you finger Esus4 on piano?
1-4-5 or 1-3-5 both work; prefer 1-4-5 when resolving to the plain triad, because finger 4 falls naturally down onto the 3rd.
An all-white-key shape — a good one to learn by feel with your eyes closed.
Tip: the common mistake
Adding the 3rd anyway. A sus4 with the 3rd underneath turns into a cluster — leave the 3rd out entirely; the 4th replaces it, it does not join it.
Reading about E Sus 4 is step one — recognizing it at speed is the game. Chord Rush drills it until your hands know it.
- ⚡Speed
- ◎Accuracy
- ♪Recognition