Ab Suspended 2nd (Absus2)

Also written as G# Suspended 2nd (G# and Ab are the same key).

Download MIDI
1+2+5
G#1A#3D#5
4 4

Notes in Ab Suspended 2nd

G# (root)A#D#

Inversions

Same notes as Ab Suspended 2nd, with a different chord tone as the lowest note. Useful for smoother movement between chords instead of jumping around the keyboard.

Root position

G# in the bass

G#1A#3D#5

1st inversion

A# in the bass (Absus2/A#)

A#1D#2G#5

2nd inversion

D# in the bass (Absus2/D#)

D#1G#3A#5

Ab Suspended 2nd is built from G#, A# and D#.

Suspended chords pull the third out entirely, so they land somewhere between major and minor rather than picking a side. Sus2 fills the gap with a major second sitting close to the root, which gives it an open, slightly hollow color. It's a favorite way to add movement to a strummed or arpeggiated part without changing the underlying harmony.

Difficulty: Beginner. Category: Triads. Click any highlighted key on the diagram above, or tab to it and press Enter, to hear that single note. Inversions mark the bass note with a contrasting outline.