All chords › B › Suspended & Altered

B Suspended & Altered Chords

Chords that swap the third for a second or a fourth, and chords that bend the fifth or the ninth out of shape. Suspensions blur the major/minor question; altered chords sharpen the pull toward whatever comes next.

17 chord types · 185 playable voicings · frets 1–15 · 104 use an open string

104 of the 185 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of B, the IV of E, and the V of F#.

Jump to: Bsus2 · Bsus4 · B7sus4 · Bmaj7sus4 · B7sus2 · Bmaj7sus2 · B6sus4 · B6sus2 · Bm7b5 · Bm7#5 · Bdim7 · B7b9 · B7#9 · B7b5 · Baug7 · Baug7b9 · Bm7b9

Bsus2

BC#F#
13 shapes · open & play
X
1
3
4
1
1
X
X
1
4
2
3
X
X
X
1
2
3
X
X
X
3
1
1
O
X
4
4
1
1
1
X
O
X
4
4
1
1
X
X
6
4
1
2
3
X
X
X
7
1
2
3
X
X
X
7
3
1
4
X
X
O
9
1
3
2
X
X
9
1
3
4
2
X
O
X
11
4
1
1
X
X
11
4
1
1
2

Bsus2 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of B major, i of B minor, V of E major, IV of F# major, iv of F# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bsus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 4 4 2 2– 1 3 4 1 1
X 2 X 4 2 2– 1 – 4 2 3
X 2 X X 2 2– 1 – – 2 3
X X X 4 2 2– – – 3 1 1
7 4 4 4 0 X4 1 1 1 – –
7 4 4 X 0 X4 1 1 – – –
X X 9 6 7 7– – 4 1 2 3
7 X X X 7 91 – – – 2 3
X X 9 X 7 9– – 3 – 1 4
X X 9 11 0 9– – 1 3 – 2
X X 9 11 12 9– – 1 3 4 2
X 14 11 11 0 X– 4 1 1 – –
X 14 11 11 12 X– 4 1 1 2 –

Bsus4

BEF#
16 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
1
3
4
X
O
1
1
3
2
X
2
1
1
3
4
2
O
O
4
3
4
1
1
O
7
1
1
3
4
2
O
7
1
2
3
4
1
O
O
7
1
2
3
4
X
X
O
7
3
4
1
7
1
1
3
4
1
1
7
1
2
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
7
1
3
4
X
X
7
3
4
1
1
X
X
O
O
9
1
3
X
X
X
9
1
3
4
X
O
O
11
3
4
1
X
X
O
14
1
1
2

Bsus4 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of B major, i of B minor, V of E major, v of E minor, iv of F# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bsus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 4 4 0 0– 1 3 4 – –
X 2 2 4 0 2– 1 1 3 – 2
X 2 2 4 5 2– 1 1 3 4 2
7 7 4 4 0 03 4 1 1 – –
7 7 9 9 7 01 1 3 4 2 –
7 9 9 9 7 01 2 3 4 1 –
7 9 9 9 0 01 2 3 4 – –
X X 9 9 7 0– – 3 4 1 –
7 7 9 9 7 71 1 3 4 1 1
7 9 9 9 7 71 2 3 4 1 1
7 9 X 9 X X1 3 – 4 – –
X X 9 9 7 7– – 3 4 1 1
X X 9 11 0 0– – 1 3 – –
X X 9 11 X 12– – 1 3 – 4
X 14 14 11 0 0– 3 4 1 – –
X 14 14 X 0 14– 1 1 – – 2

B7sus4

BEF#A
15 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
1
3
2
X
O
2
1
3
2
4
X
2
1
1
1
4
2
X
2
1
3
1
4
1
O
O
O
4
4
1
1
O
X
O
O
4
4
1
O
7
1
1
1
3
2
O
O
7
1
2
4
3
O
7
1
3
1
4
1
O
O
7
1
3
4
2
O
O
7
1
3
2
4
7
1
3
1
4
1
1
X
X
O
9
1
3
2
X
X
9
1
3
2
4
X
O
14
1
1
1
2

B7sus4 turns up as the i, V, v, iv chord across 8 keys: i of B minor, V of E major, v of E minor, iv of F# minor, vi of D major, ii of A major, iii of G major, VII of C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 4 2 0 0– 1 3 2 – –
X 2 4 2 5 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 2 2 2 5 2– 1 1 1 4 2
X 2 4 2 5 2– 1 3 1 4 1
7 0 4 4 0 04 – 1 1 – –
7 0 4 X 0 04 – 1 – – –
7 7 7 9 7 01 1 1 3 2 –
7 0 7 9 7 01 – 2 4 3 –
7 9 7 9 7 01 3 1 4 1 –
7 0 9 9 7 01 – 3 4 2 –
7 9 7 9 0 01 3 2 4 – –
7 9 7 9 7 71 3 1 4 1 1
X X 9 11 10 0– – 1 3 2 –
X X 9 11 10 12– – 1 3 2 4
X 14 14 14 0 14– 1 1 1 – 2

Bmaj7sus4

BEF#Bb
13 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
1
3
2
X
O
1
1
3
2
X
O
2
1
3
2
4
X
2
1
1
3
4
2
X
2
1
3
2
4
1
O
7
1
1
3
4
2
O
7
1
3
2
4
1
O
O
7
1
3
2
4
7
1
1
2
3
1
1
7
1
3
2
4
1
1
X
X
O
9
1
3
4
X
O
11
3
4
1
1
X
11
3
4
1
1
2

Bmaj7sus4 is the I and the III chord of B major and G# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bmaj7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 4 3 0 0– 1 3 2 – –
X 2 2 3 0 2– 1 1 3 – 2
X 2 4 3 5 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 2 2 3 5 2– 1 1 3 4 2
X 2 4 3 5 2– 1 3 2 4 1
7 7 8 9 7 01 1 3 4 2 –
7 9 8 9 7 01 3 2 4 1 –
7 9 8 9 0 01 3 2 4 – –
7 7 8 9 7 71 1 2 3 1 1
7 9 8 9 7 71 3 2 4 1 1
X X 9 11 11 0– – 1 3 4 –
X 14 14 11 11 0– 3 4 1 1 –
X 14 14 11 11 12– 3 4 1 1 2

B7sus2

BC#F#A
13 shapes · open & play
X
X
1
2
3
4
X
1
3
1
1
1
X
X
1
4
2
3
X
2
1
3
1
1
4
O
4
4
1
1
1
2
O
O
X
4
4
1
3
O
O
4
4
1
3
2
O
4
4
1
1
3
2
O
X
6
2
3
1
4
O
X
6
2
4
1
3
O
X
6
2
4
3
1
X
X
7
1
2
3
4
X
X
9
1
4
3
2

B7sus2 turns up as the i, V, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of B minor, V of E major, iv of F# minor, vi of D major, ii of A major, VII of C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 X 2 2 2– 1 – 2 3 4
X 2 4 2 2 2– 1 3 1 1 1
X 2 4 2 2 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 2 4 2 2 5– 1 3 1 1 4
7 4 4 4 0 54 1 1 1 – 2
7 0 4 6 0 X4 – 1 3 – –
7 0 4 6 0 54 – 1 3 – 2
7 4 4 6 0 54 1 1 3 – 2
7 0 7 6 7 X2 – 3 1 4 –
7 0 9 6 7 X2 – 4 1 3 –
7 9 7 6 0 X2 4 3 1 – –
7 X 7 X 7 91 – 2 – 3 4
X X 9 11 10 9– – 1 4 3 2

Bmaj7sus2

BC#F#Bb
8 shapes · open & play
X
X
1
4
2
3
X
1
3
2
1
1
O
4
4
1
1
1
3
X
X
6
3
1
4
2
X
X
6
4
1
3
2
X
O
7
1
3
2
4
X
X
9
1
3
4
2
X
X
11
4
1
1
1

Bmaj7sus2 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of B major, IV of F# major, VI of Eb minor, III of G# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bmaj7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 X 3 2 2– 1 – 4 2 3
X 2 4 3 2 2– 1 3 2 1 1
7 4 4 4 0 64 1 1 1 – 3
7 X X 6 7 63 – – 1 4 2
X X 9 6 7 6– – 4 1 3 2
7 9 8 X 0 91 3 2 – – 4
X X 9 11 11 9– – 1 3 4 2
X 14 11 11 11 X– 4 1 1 1 –

B6sus4

BEF#G#
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
2
4
1
X
O
2
3
1
4
O
4
3
4
1
1
2
4
3
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
O
9
1
3
2
X
X
9
1
3
2
4

B6sus4 turns up as the I, V, iv, ii chord across 6 keys: I of B major, V of E major, iv of F# minor, ii of A major, III of G# minor, VII of C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B6sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 4 1 0 0– 2 4 1 – –
X 2 2 1 0 2– 2 3 1 – 4
7 7 4 4 0 43 4 1 1 – 2
7 7 4 4 5 43 4 1 1 2 1
X X 9 11 9 0– – 1 3 2 –
X X 9 11 9 12– – 1 3 2 4

B6sus2

BC#F#G#
6 shapes · open & play
X
X
2
1
3
4
X
X
1
3
2
4
O
4
4
1
1
3
2
X
X
4
4
1
1
2
O
6
2
4
1
1
3
X
X
9
1
4
2
3

B6sus2 turns up as the I, V, IV, iv chord across 8 keys: I of B major, V of E major, IV of F# major, iv of F# minor, VI of Eb minor, ii of A major, III of G# minor, VII of C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B6sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 X 1 2 2– 2 – 1 3 4
X 2 4 X 2 4– 1 3 – 2 4
7 4 4 6 0 44 1 1 3 – 2
7 4 4 X X 44 1 1 – – 2
7 9 6 6 0 72 4 1 1 – 3
X X 9 11 9 9– – 1 4 2 3

Bm7b5

BDFA
18 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
2
3
1
X
2
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
1
3
2
4
O
O
4
4
1
3
2
O
O
X
5
3
2
1
O
O
5
3
4
2
1
O
O
6
2
3
1
4
X
X
6
2
3
4
1
O
O
7
1
2
3
4
O
O
O
7
1
4
2
7
1
2
1
1
4
1
7
1
2
3
1
4
1
7
1
2
1
1
3
4
X
X
9
1
2
3
4
X
X
X
9
1
2
3
X
O
12
3
4
1
2
X
O
12
3
1
4
2
X
12
3
1
4
1
2

Bm7b5 is the ii° and the vii° chord of A minor and C major.

Fret and finger numbers for Bm7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 0 2 0 1– 2 – 3 – 1
X 2 3 2 3 5– 1 2 1 3 4
X 2 3 2 3 X– 1 3 2 4 –
7 0 0 4 6 54 – – 1 3 2
7 0 0 X 6 53 – – – 2 1
7 0 0 7 6 53 – – 4 2 1
7 0 0 7 6 72 – – 3 1 4
7 X 7 7 6 X2 – 3 4 1 –
7 0 0 10 10 101 – – 2 3 4
7 0 0 10 0 71 – – 4 – 2
7 8 7 7 10 71 2 1 1 4 1
7 8 9 7 10 71 2 3 1 4 1
7 8 7 7 10 101 2 1 1 3 4
X X 9 10 10 10– – 1 2 3 4
X X 9 X 10 10– – 1 – 2 3
X 14 0 14 12 13– 3 – 4 1 2
X 14 12 14 0 13– 3 1 4 – 2
X 14 12 14 12 13– 3 1 4 1 2

Bm7#5

BDGA
18 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
O
2
1
4
X
O
O
1
2
3
X
O
1
2
3
4
X
2
1
4
1
2
3
O
O
O
O
5
3
1
O
O
5
3
1
1
2
O
O
O
5
3
1
2
O
O
5
3
1
4
2
O
5
3
1
1
4
2
O
O
5
3
1
4
2
O
O
O
O
X
7
1
O
O
O
O
7
1
2
O
O
O
7
1
3
2
O
O
7
1
2
4
3
7
1
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
O
9
1
2
3
X
X
9
1
4
2
3
X
O
X
14
1
2
3

Bm7#5 turns up as the i, v, vi, ii° chord across 6 keys: i of B minor, v of E minor, vi of D major, ii° of A minor, iii of G major, vii° of C major.

Fret and finger numbers for Bm7#5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 0 0 0 5– 1 – – – 4
X 2 0 2 0 3– 1 – 2 – 3
X 2 0 2 3 3– 1 – 2 3 4
X 2 5 2 3 3– 1 4 1 2 3
7 0 0 0 0 53 – – – – 1
7 5 5 0 0 53 1 1 – – 2
7 5 0 0 0 53 1 – – – 2
7 5 7 0 0 53 1 4 – – 2
7 5 5 7 0 53 1 1 4 – 2
7 0 5 7 0 53 – 1 4 – 2
7 0 0 0 0 X1 – – – – –
7 0 0 0 0 71 – – – – 2
7 0 0 0 8 71 – – – 3 2
7 0 0 7 8 71 – – 2 4 3
7 10 7 7 8 71 4 1 1 2 1
X X 9 0 10 10– – 1 – 2 3
X X 9 12 10 10– – 1 4 2 3
X 14 0 14 X 15– 1 – 2 – 3

Bdim7

BDFG#
13 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
3
1
2
X
O
3
1
4
2
X
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
2
3
1
4
X
O
X
4
4
3
1
O
4
4
2
1
3
1
X
X
6
3
1
4
2
O
X
X
7
1
2
3
7
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
9
1
3
2
4
X
O
12
4
2
1
3
X
O
12
4
1
2
3
X
12
4
1
2
1
3

Bdim7 — Four notes stacked a minor third apart, so it belongs to no key in particular. That symmetry makes it a pivot: it can slide into almost any chord, which is why it turns up at the seams where a song changes direction.

Fret and finger numbers for Bdim7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 0 1 0 1– 3 – 1 – 2
X 2 0 1 3 1– 3 – 1 4 2
X 2 3 1 3 1– 2 3 1 4 1
X 2 3 1 3 X– 2 3 1 4 –
7 X 0 X 6 44 – – – 3 1
7 5 0 4 6 44 2 – 1 3 1
7 X 6 7 6 X3 – 1 4 2 –
7 8 0 X 9 X1 2 – – 3 –
7 8 9 7 9 71 2 3 1 4 1
X X 9 10 9 10– – 1 3 2 4
X 14 0 13 12 13– 4 – 2 1 3
X 14 12 13 0 13– 4 1 2 – 3
X 14 12 13 12 13– 4 1 2 1 3

B7b9

BEbF#AC
6 shapes · open & play
X
2
1
3
1
4
O
X
4
4
1
3
2
O
4
4
1
2
1
3
O
X
7
1
4
3
2
O
7
1
4
1
2
3
7
1
4
1
2
1
3

B7b9 — A dominant seventh with a flattened ninth on top. The ninth is outside the key, which is the point: it makes the resolution feel earned. Very common resolving into a minor chord.

Fret and finger numbers for B7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 1 2 1 2– 2 1 3 1 4
7 0 4 5 4 X4 – 1 3 2 –
7 0 4 5 4 54 – 1 2 1 3
7 0 10 8 7 X1 – 4 3 2 –
7 9 7 8 0 81 4 1 2 – 3
7 9 7 8 7 81 4 1 2 1 3

B7#9

BEbF#AD
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
1
2
4
3
O
4
3
1
4
1
2
O
4
2
1
3
1
4
4
4
2
1
1
1
3
O
O
7
1
4
2
3
7
1
3
1
2
1
4

B7#9 — The Hendrix chord. A dominant seventh carrying both a major third and a raised ninth — which is the minor third in disguise. Major and minor at once, and neither.

Fret and finger numbers for B7#9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 0 2 4 2– 1 – 2 4 3
7 0 4 7 4 53 – 1 4 1 2
7 0 4 7 4 72 – 1 3 1 4
7 5 4 4 4 54 2 1 1 1 3
7 0 0 8 7 71 – – 4 2 3
7 9 7 8 7 101 3 1 2 1 4

B7b5

BEbFA
8 shapes · open & play
X
O
3
1
4
2
X
X
2
3
4
1
X
2
1
3
4
1
X
2
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
1
3
2
4
O
X
5
3
4
2
1
7
1
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
9
1
2
3
4

B7b5 — A dominant seventh with the fifth flattened. It is a V chord under tension, and it resolves like one; the flat fifth just sharpens the pull.

Fret and finger numbers for B7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 1 2 0 1– 3 1 4 – 2
X 2 X 2 4 1– 2 – 3 4 1
X 2 1 2 4 1– 2 1 3 4 1
X 2 3 2 4 5– 1 2 1 3 4
X 2 3 2 4 X– 1 3 2 4 –
7 0 X 8 6 53 – – 4 2 1
7 8 7 8 10 71 2 1 3 4 1
X X 9 10 10 11– – 1 2 3 4

Baug7

BEbGA
14 shapes · open & play
X
O
2
1
3
4
X
X
O
2
1
3
4
X
2
1
4
1
3
2
X
X
1
2
4
3
O
X
O
X
4
4
1
O
4
4
2
1
1
3
O
O
4
4
2
1
3
O
O
5
4
3
1
2
O
O
5
3
2
4
1
O
O
5
3
1
4
2
O
O
6
2
1
3
4
7
1
4
1
2
3
1
X
X
O
9
1
2
3
X
X
9
1
4
2
3

Baug7 — A dominant seventh with the fifth raised. Same job as a plain seventh — pulling toward the chord a fourth above — with more strain in the middle of the chord.

Fret and finger numbers for Baug7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 1 2 0 3– 2 1 3 – 4
X 2 X 0 4 5– 1 – – 3 4
X 2 5 2 4 3– 1 4 1 3 2
X 2 X 2 4 3– 1 – 2 4 3
7 0 X 0 4 X4 – – – 1 –
7 0 5 4 4 54 – 2 1 1 3
7 0 5 0 4 54 – 2 – 1 3
7 6 5 0 0 54 3 1 – – 2
7 6 7 0 0 53 2 4 – – 1
7 0 5 8 0 53 – 1 4 – 2
7 6 7 0 0 72 1 3 – – 4
7 10 7 8 8 71 4 1 2 3 1
X X 9 0 10 11– – 1 – 2 3
X X 9 12 10 11– – 1 4 2 3

Baug7b9

BEbGAC
6 shapes · open & play
X
2
1
3
1
4
O
X
4
4
2
3
1
O
5
4
3
1
1
2
5
3
2
1
1
4
1
6
2
1
3
4
4
4
O
7
1
2
3
3
3

Baug7b9 — A dominant seventh with both the fifth and the ninth altered. It exists to make the chord it resolves to sound like relief.

Fret and finger numbers for Baug7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 1 2 1 3– 2 1 3 1 4
7 0 5 5 4 X4 – 2 3 1 –
7 6 5 5 0 54 3 1 1 – 2
7 6 5 5 8 53 2 1 1 4 1
7 6 7 8 8 82 1 3 4 4 4
7 0 7 8 8 81 – 2 3 3 3

Bm7b9

BDF#AC
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
2
3
1
4
O
O
5
3
1
4
2
5
2
1
3
1
4
1
7
1
3
1
1
1
2
7
1
3
1
1
4
2
7
1
2
3
1
4
1

Bm7b9 is the v and the iii chord of E minor and G major.

Fret and finger numbers for Bm7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 0 2 1 2– 2 – 3 1 4
7 0 0 5 7 53 – – 1 4 2
7 5 7 5 7 52 1 3 1 4 1
7 9 7 7 7 81 3 1 1 1 2
7 9 7 7 10 81 3 1 1 4 2
7 9 10 7 10 71 2 3 1 4 1

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.