Piano · Level 3 · Beginner
Suspended chords in E major on Piano
Don’t just read about Suspended chords in E major. Play it.
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Sus chords replace the third with the second or fourth note, creating a moment of tension that resolves back to the plain chord. They add movement without changing the bass.
Esus4
Notes: E · A · B
E
Notes: E · G♯ · B
Esus2
Notes: E · F♯ · B
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: Esus4, E and Esus2. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Keep the right hand curved over the keys and move it as one unit between chords.
- Set the tempo to 53 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Move only the finger that changes; leave the rest of the shape in place.
- Play the left-hand bass note on beat one and the right-hand chord on every beat.
- Raise the tempo to 70 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for tension in the sus chord and release when the third returns.
Listen for
Aim for tension in the sus chord and release when the third returns. A common mistake is re-fretting the whole chord instead of moving one finger.
Why it works
Without a third, a sus chord is neither major nor minor. The fourth wants to fall to the third; the second wants to rise to it.
E major has 4 sharps; its relative minor key is C♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in Isus4–I–Isus2–I in E major?
In E major the progression is Esus4 | E | Esus2 | E.
What is the key signature of E major?
E major has 4 sharps. Its relative minor is C♯ minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 3 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “The four-chord pop progression”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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