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Bass chord companion

E Sus4 Chord

Learn the E Sus4 chord on bass with chord tones, intervals, playable arpeggios, and fretboard maps.

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1E4A5B

Bass chord tones and arpeggios

Play these tones one at a time to outline the chord. The maps show the complete formula; the numbered exercises give an ascending path, including extensions in their written octave.

Standard four-string bass: E1 – A1 – D2 – G2. String 4 is low E; string 1 is high G. Fingers 1–4 are index through little finger; 0 is open. Use comfortable hand positions and shift where indicated.

Root on E string

E Suspended 4th complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 0. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

E Suspended 4th Root on E string bass chord-tone mapE Suspended 4th complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 0. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG01234145145

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

E Suspended 4th Root on E string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: E1, A1, B1. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG01234567123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11E14 / 0OpenFret 4
24A14 / 52Fret 4
35B14 / 74Fret 4

Root on A string

E Suspended 4th complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 7. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

E Suspended 4th Root on A string bass chord-tone mapE Suspended 4th complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 7. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG67891051451

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

E Suspended 4th Root on A string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: E2, A2, B2. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG789123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11E23 / 72Fret 6
24A22 / 72Fret 6
35B22 / 94Fret 6

Full fretboard map

Every E Sus4 Chord chord tone across the neck, with roots highlighted for quick orientation.

Interactive

Frets 0–24. Select a position or tap a note to hear it.

GDAEABEABEBEABEAEABEABABEABE123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Progression examples using E Sus4

Try these progressions to hear the harmony in context. On bass, outline each chord with individual target tones.

Suspension release

Let the suspended sound resolve back to the stable major chord on the same root.

  1. sus E Sus4
  2. /I E Major

Chord Tones

DegreeIntervalNote
1RootE
4P4A
5P5B

Complete Formula

1 – 4 – 5

Compound degrees retain their names: 9, 11, and 13 are extensions. A voicing may place their pitches in a closer register.

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