Esus4 Guitar Chord

Esus4 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Back to Chord Dictionary
Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
Esus4Guitar fingering diagram for Esus41234234STRING6ªE5ªB4ªE3ªA2ªB1ªE

What sets Esus4 apart

The notes of Esus4 are E, A and B. E is the root, A the fourth and B the fifth.

String by string, low to high, it plays E, B, E, A, B and E. The root, E, shows up three times in the main shape. The lowest and highest notes are both E, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.

The open strings add notes to Esus4 too. String 6 gives E, string 2 gives B and string 1 gives E. Every finger presses at fret 2. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 7 and 12.

Change only string 3 in Esus4 and you have E. Esus4 and A have E and A in common. Moving to B7, you keep one finger down.

You will find Esus4 in ten different keys. In E major it is the Isus4, in A major the Vsus4 and in G major the VIsus4. The rest appear in the key list.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Esus4)

Formula: Suspended Fourth (1 - 4 - 5)
Constituent chord intervals:

E 1A 4B 5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Esus4:

01

Standard

Standard Position
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 2
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 3
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 4
ADegree 4
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 5
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Pinky finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

02

Barre 7

Barre fret 7
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 7Barre
EDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 9Finger 2
BDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 9Finger 3
EDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 10Finger 4
ADegree 4
1st String (High E)
Fret 7Barre
BDegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 9 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 9 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 10 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

03

Octave

Barre fret 12
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 12Barre
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 14
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 14
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 14
ADegree 4
2nd String (B)
Fret 12Barre
BDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 12Barre
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 12. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 14, 4th String (D) at fret 14, 3rd String (G) at fret 14.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Esus4)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Fretsfret 2
Fretting fingers3
Open6th, 2nd, and 1st
Mutednone

What to check

The open 6th and 2nd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Esus4

Listen: Esus4 → E · B7 · B

  1. Esus4
  2. E
  3. Esus4
  4. B7
  5. Esus4
  6. B
Esus4 → E01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 1
Esus4 → B702
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 1: string 4, fret 1
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 4: string 1, fret 2
Esus4 → B03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 2
Move
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 4
  • string 1, fret 2

Esus4 in every key

Esus4 sits in the scale of 10 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
1
Barre
No
Strings that ring
6/6
Fretting fingers
3

Esus4 on other instruments

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Esus4)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Esus4 chord?

To play the Esus4 chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.

What is the root bass note of the Esus4 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Esus4 chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Esus4 chord and what is its formula?

The Esus4 chord is constructed using the 1 - 4 - 5 formula (Suspended Fourth). Its constituent pitches are E, A, B.

How do you prevent the Esus4 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Esus4 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Esus4 chord diagram

Esus4 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4

Thanks for studying with CifraLab

If this chord helped you, support us with a coffee on Ko-fi.

Buy a coffee