E♭ sus2 chordE♭sus2

Built from

• E♭root
• F2nd
• B♭5th

There is no 3rd at all; the 2nd takes its place, so the chord never commits to major or minor.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In E♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. E♭sus2I
  2. B♭V
  3. Cmvi
  4. A♭IV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In E♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. E♭sus2I
  2. A♭IV
  3. B♭V
  4. E♭sus2I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In E♭ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. E♭sus2I
  2. Cmvi
  3. A♭IV
  4. B♭V

Where it goes next

Thinking in E♭ major, where it is the I chord.

• A♭

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• B♭

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• Cm

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• Fm

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• B♭

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F and B♭.

• B♭m

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F and B♭.

• Cm7

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

• F7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have E♭ and F.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• E♭ major
• E♭ major pentatonic

Keys it lives in

• E♭ majoras I
• A♭ majoras V
• B♭ majoras IV
• G minoras VI
• C minoras III
• F minoras VII