E Sus4
Open PositionThe full open Esus4 (0-2-2-2-0-0): low E open (E), index, middle and ring on the A, D and G strings at fret 2 (B, E, A), B and high e open (B, E). Strum all six strings.
E Sus4
7th Fret · A-Shape BarreMoveable A-shape sus4 rooted on E at the 7th fret — index barres fret 7 from the A string up, ring and pinky add the 4th and 5th at fret 9, pinky reaches A on the B string at fret 10. Mute the low E.
E Sus4
12th Fret · E-Shape BarreA fully moveable E-shape sus4 at the 12th fret — index barres all six strings at fret 12, ring and pinky add the 4th on the D and G strings at fret 14. Root E is on the low E string, an octave up from open.
Hear the suspension
Play E major, then Esus4, then back to E. The A in Esus4 wants to fall to the G# of E major — lifting one finger releases the tension.
From E to Esus4 in one move
Esus4 is just E major with one extra finger: add your pinky on the G string at fret 2 over the open E shape, or lift the middle finger off the G string.
Strum all six strings
The open Esus4 uses every string, so let it ring full and bright — no muting needed.
Learn the moveable barre
The 12-12-14-14-12-12 E-shape is fully moveable: slide it down to play any sus4 lower on the neck.
Keep the open strings clean
Arch your fretting fingers so the open B and high e strings ring clearly alongside the fretted notes.
About the Esus4 Chord on Guitar
The Esus4 chord is built from three notes: E (the root), A (the perfect 4th), and B (the perfect 5th). It is an E major triad with the 3rd suspended — the G# is replaced by the A a half step above it. With no 3rd, Esus4 sounds tense and unresolved, which is why the E → Esus4 → E move is such a common way to open a riff. Because E is the lowest open string, Esus4 has a big, ringing open voicing across all six strings. This page covers three voicings, from the full open shape to a moveable A-shape barre and an E-shape barre up the neck. Every diagram is interactive and playable with acoustic guitar sound.
- 013 Esus4 chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Full open voicing, moveable A-shape barre, and an E-shape barre
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the E Sus4 chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the open shape 0-2-2-2-0-0: low E open, index, middle and ring on the A, D and G strings at fret 2, B and high e open. Strum all six strings.
E major is E, G#, and B. Esus4 swaps the G# (3rd) for A (4th), giving E, A, and B. The 4th makes Esus4 sound tense until it resolves to E.
No. Esus4 replaces the 3rd with the 4th (E, A, B), while Esus2 replaces it with the 2nd (E, F#, B). Sus4 sounds tense; sus2 sounds open and airy.
Esus4 resolves naturally to E major and pairs with A, B, C#m, and F#m. The E → Esus4 → E suspension is a classic riff move.