Sus2 chord: formula, notes and how it sounds
A sus2 chord replaces the third with a major second (0-2-7 semitones). Hear its open sound, see it on every root, and tell it from major and minor.
A sus2 chord (suspended second) is the root, a major second (2 semitones) and a perfect fifth (7 semitones): the third is replaced by the second. Csus2 is C, D and G. With no third it is neither major nor minor, and sounds open and airy.
Listen to Csus2
C D G
What is the formula of a sus2 chord?
| Chord tone | Interval from the root | Semitones | In C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root | root | 0 | C |
| Second | major second | 2 | D |
| Fifth | perfect fifth | 7 | G |
Formula: 0-2-7 semitones. Written Csus2.
What does a sus2 chord sound like?
Open, modern and ambiguous: no major or minor colour. Very common on guitar and in pop and ambient music.
How to recognise it by ear
- Missing the major/minor feeling? Probably a suspended chord.
- Csus2 (C D G) has the same notes as Gsus4 (G C D): which one you hear depends on the bass note.
- Sus2 sounds more spacious; sus4 sounds more like it wants to resolve down to the third.
Quick test: is it a sus2 chord?
Four chords on different roots. Each is a sus2 chord or a chord it is often confused with.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
Sus2 chords on all 12 roots
Spelled by letter from the formula, so thirds are always a letter apart (E♭, not D♯, in C minor).
| Chord | Notes | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Csus2 | C D G | |
| D♭sus2 | D♭ E♭ A♭ | |
| Dsus2 | D E A | |
| E♭sus2 | E♭ F B♭ | |
| Esus2 | E F♯ B | |
| Fsus2 | F G C | |
| F♯sus2 | F♯ G♯ C♯ | |
| Gsus2 | G A D | |
| A♭sus2 | A♭ B♭ E♭ | |
| Asus2 | A B E | |
| B♭sus2 | B♭ C F | |
| Bsus2 | B C♯ F♯ |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a sus2 chord?
Root, major second and perfect fifth: 1, 2, 5. Csus2 is C D G, Dsus2 is D E A, Asus2 is A B E.
Is a sus2 chord major or minor?
Neither. It has no third, and the third is what makes a chord major or minor.
What is the difference between sus2 and add9?
Sus2 removes the third (C D G). Add9 keeps the third and adds the ninth on top (C E G D).
Why is it called suspended?
In older music the second or fourth was a note held over from the previous chord, "suspended" before resolving to the third. Modern pop often leaves it unresolved.