Theory: 2nd Chord in 'Viva'

[Professor Al]

I've been asked by my kid to help her figure out a part of Coldplay's "Viva La you-know-what". It's not a difficult tune to lay down, but here's the stumper.

The 2nd chord in the progression Db - Eb - Ab - Fm has a suspension against a major 3rd (Eb-G-Ab-Bb), so it's an Ebsus but with the 3rd still intact. In the recording, the suspension is a carryover from the bowed psaltry patch still sounding the Ab note from the previous chord. It shouldn't be there but it is, and without it the chord sounds empty and incomplete.

Analysis of the chord structure is not the issue. How do I name the chord on a chart so an 11th-grade guitar player can read it and play it? Ebsus-add3? Eb/addsus? It doesn't really qualify as an 11th chord; perhaps it does technically, but not to the ear. Web TAB sites are not consistent and some even transpose to an easier key to play in. Your suggestions and solutions welcome.

Sit this one out please if all you can offer is "Coldplay sucks", "plagiarism", etc. We've all heard it.

[trewq]

I've seen the chord name published in chord encyclopedias as EbMadd4, or EbMajAdd4.

[pedrorf]

On a pop/rock context, I'd expect to see it as "Ebadd4".

[Melkor]

I've seen the chord name published in chord encyclopedias as EbMadd4, or EbMajAdd4.

This ^^^ .... which could be further simplified to just Ebadd4, if a correct 'b' symbol is used, so it doesnt look like E BAD 4 :D:)

[Professor Al]

Makes a lot of sense. And since she has a chord dictionary, it'll be easy to chase down. Thanks very much, all.

BTW, for the final word in "What song does Viva La Vida sound like?", check out "Viva Southern California!"