stringery

B seven sus4 Suspended family

Hanging in the air before a big resolution.

Easiest shape1 of 6

Square: the root. In colour: the 4th, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

  • Broot
  • E4th
  • F♯5th
  • Aflat 7th

A dominant 7 with its 3rd suspended to the 4th: double the waiting.

Tension: Restless

Hear it in a progression

Where it goes next

Thinking in E major, where it is the V7 chord.

  • Emaj7

    Imaj7. The strongest pull in music: tension resolving home.

  • C♯m7

    vi7. The fake-out: you expect home, you get the relative minor.

Sounds close

  • F♯m7

    Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, F♯ and A.

  • D

    Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F♯ and A.

  • E

    Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B and E.

  • Em

    Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B and E.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

Keys it lives in