Shape characteristics
Closed voicing
Every sounding string is fretted, with no open strings. Tight, controllable tone that responds well to palm muting and dynamic picking.
Upper register · fret 9-11
Brighter, more focused tone with less low-end. Works well when layering over a bassist or second guitar, and integrates naturally with lead-line phrasing higher on the neck.
Four-string voicing
Compact and punchy. Easy to mute cleanly, cuts through a dense mix, and transitions quickly to other shapes.
Bass: B · Top: D♯
The 5th is in the bass, giving an open, unresolved feel that often precedes a strong resolution back to root position.
Compared to Shape xx98a0 , this voicing uses an open chord and sits lower on the neck (starting at fret 8).
How to play this shape
- 1 Place the 1st finger on the 9th fret of the 4th string
- 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 3rd string
- 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string
- 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "xx99ab" mean?
The sequence xx99ab is a highly compact guitar chord notation. It represents the fret played on each of the 6 strings, reading left-to-right from the thickest (lowest pitch) string to the thinnest (highest pitch) string: E, A, D, G, B, e.
- x means the string is muted or skipped entirely.
- 0 means the string is played "open" (without pressing over a fret).
- 1-9 represent standard fret numbers 1 to 9.
- a, b, c... represent frets 10, 11, 12, and higher (where a=10, b=11, c=12).
Can I play this Emaj7sus4/B shape anywhere else?
Yes! This specific layout is just one way to voice a Emaj7sus4/B chord. You can find all other variations in our chord shape library for Emaj7sus4/B. Most guitarists choose different shapes based on whether they want a "brighter" or "deeper" sound, or which chord they are transitioning from.
Why do some strings have an 'x'?
Strings marked with an 'x' should not ring out. These notes are excluded because they don't belong to the Emaj7sus4/B chord or would clash with this specific voicing. You can mute these strings by lightly touching them with a finger that is already pressing a neighboring fret.
Other shapes
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