How to play the Bbsus4 chord on guitar

The Bbsus4 chord, pronounced B-flat suspended fourth, is a rich and versatile guitar chord. It's formed by playing a Bb major chord and replacing the major third with a perfect fourth interval. This suspension creates a sense of tension and ambiguity, making it a popular choice in rock, blues, and folk music for adding depth and intrigue to progressions.

The most common way to play a Bbsus4 chord on guitar is as a 1st fret barre chord.

Follow these finger positions to play a Bbsus4 chord on your guitar:

1. Use your index finger to barre across all six strings at the 1st fret.
2. Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 3rd fret of the 4th (D) string.

Strum all six strings together to play the Bbsus4 chord. Make sure to apply enough pressure with your index finger to cleanly barre all the strings.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Bbsus4 chord, try playing it as a power chord. Place your first finger on the 1st fret of the 5th (A) string, your third finger on the 3rd fret of the 4th (D) string, and strum only those two strings.

The Bb sus4 chord is most commonly played as a barre chord on guitar, rather than in an open position. Playing the barre chord version allows you to easily transition between other barre chords and play the chord in any key up the fretboard.

Here's how to play a Bbsus4 bar chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 1st fret, creating a barre.
2. Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th (A) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 3rd fret of the 4th (D) string.
4. Strum all six strings from the 5th (A) string down.

The Bbsus4 chord often serves as a transitional chord in progressions, adding tension and anticipation before resolving to a more stable chord. These progressions tend to evoke feelings of longing, contemplation, and emotional depth. Common Bbsus4 chord progressions include:

• I - Isus4 - I (Bb - Bbsus4 - Bb)
• vi - Isus4 - I (Gm - Bbsus4 - Bb). Used in "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman and "Everything I Want" by Vertical Horizon.
• IV - Isus4 - vi - V (Eb - Bbsus4 - Gm - F)
• ii - Isus4 - IV - V (Cm - Bbsus4 - Eb - F)
• I - iii - Isus4 - vi (Bb - Dm - Bbsus4 - Gm)

To master the Bbsus4 guitar chord, try playing the notes (Bb, Eb, and F) in various rhythmic patterns. Start with a simple pattern, like quarter notes, and gradually increase the complexity by mixing in eighth notes or triplets. Focus on maintaining a consistent tempo and clean articulation of each note.

Another effective drill is to practice transitioning smoothly between the Bbsus4 chord and other common chords, such as Bb major or Bb minor. Work on seamlessly switching between chords while maintaining a steady rhythm. As you become more comfortable, try incorporating the Bbsus4 chord into simple chord progressions or songs.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Bbsus4 chord.

1. Hey Jude by The Beatles (F, C, Bb, Bbsus4, F7)
2. Let It Be by The Beatles (C, G, Am, F, C/E, Dm, C7, Bbsus4, Bb)
3. Wonderwall by Oasis (Em, G, D, A7sus4, Bbsus4)
4. Creep by Radiohead (G, B, C, Cm)
5. With or Without You by U2 (D, A, Bm, G, D/F#, Bbsus4, Bb)
6. She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5 (Am, G, F, Bbsus4)
7. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton (A, E, F#m, D, A/C#, Bbsus4, Bb)
8. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (G, D, Am, C, D/F#, Em7, A7sus4, Bbsus4)
9. Riptide by Vance Joy (Am, G, C, Bbsus4)
10. The Scientist by Coldplay (F, Dm, Bb, Bbsus4, F/A)