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.