Chords
F 9sus4
F · Bb · C · Eb · G
F 9sus4 (F9sus4) is a other chord of 5 notes: F · Bb · C · Eb · G.
Also written F9sus
F 9sus4
F · Bb · C · Eb · G
Voicings on the piano
| Voicing | Notes | Play it on your instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Closed, root position | F3 · Bb3 · C4 · Eb4 · G4 | |
| Open (drop 2) | Eb3 · F3 · Bb3 · C4 · G4 | |
| Shell | F3 · Bb3 · Eb4 | |
| Rootless | Bb3 · Eb4 · G4 |
Tap a key or a fret to hear it.
Anatomy
F 9sus4 (F9sus4) contains the notes F · Bb · C · Eb · G, each with a role measured as an interval from the root.
Read on: how triads are built · seventh chords · extensions
Inversions
An inversion of F 9sus4 puts a chord tone other than F in the bass; the name after the slash is that bass note.
Where it lives
The keys and the scales F 9sus4 belongs to.
In which keys
F 9sus4 is diatonic to 6 keys; the numeral is its degree and the label its harmonic function.
- Ab majorVI9sus4Tonic
- F minorI9sus4Tonic
- Eb majorII9sus4Subdominant
- C minorIV9sus4Subdominant
- Bb majorV9sus4Dominant
- G minorVII9sus4Subdominant
Extensions beyond the seventh count when every note sits in the key.
Scales that contain it
F 9sus4 fits inside these scales, each built on F.
- F MinorF · G · Ab · Bb · C · Db · Eb
- F DorianF · G · Ab · Bb · C · D · Eb
- F MixolydianF · G · A · Bb · C · D · Eb
- F PiongioF · G · Bb · C · D · Eb
- F Mixolydian b6F · G · A · Bb · C · Db · Eb
- F BebopF · G · A · Bb · C · D · Eb · E
- F Bebop MinorF · G · Ab · A · Bb · C · D · Eb
- F Minor BebopF · G · Ab · Bb · C · Db · Eb · E
Understanding the F 9sus4 chord
Names and symbols
F9sus4 is the chord symbol for F 9sus4; it is also written F9sus.
sus on its own means sus4, and 7sus means 7sus4. sus2 is sometimes written add9(no3), which names the same notes from another angle.
Common questions
- What notes are in the F 9sus4 chord?
- The F 9sus4 chord contains the notes F · Bb · C · Eb · G: the root F with the intervals 1P, 4P, 5P, 7m, 9M stacked above it. Play them together for the chord or one after another for an arpeggio. The lowest note is normally F, but any chord tone can take the bass in an inversion.
- What intervals make up the F 9sus4 chord?
- Measured from F, the F 9sus4 chord stacks the intervals 1P, 4P, 5P, 7m, 9M. The quality of the third and of the seventh, if there is one, is what gives the chord its character; the rest of the notes colour it. Every interval in the formula links to its own page, with its sound.
- How do I play the F 9sus4 chord?
- On guitar the most common F 9sus4 shape is 111313, read from the lowest string to the highest; the instrument panel above shows several more with their fingerings. On piano play F3 · Bb3 · C4 · Eb4 · G4 with the right hand, or move the root down into the left hand and keep the rest above it. Every shape on this page plays when you press it.