Also written B♭sus2 or B♭
B♭ suspended 2nd contains B♭, C, and F. The default voicing puts C in the bass, giving the chord a floating, second-inversion character.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
B♭ suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The Major 2nd between B♭ and C replaces the third, creating an open, unresolved quality. Compare with B♭ major, which uses a Major 3rd instead.
B♭ suspended 2nd works as a passing chord in B♭ major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression: B♭ major–E♭ major–F major–B♭ major. Its open sound suits pop, gospel, and cinematic bass lines.
The 8th-fret voicing puts C in the bass, which is useful when the chord needs to lead to F. The 1st-fret voicing puts F in the bass and is easier to reach in open positions.
B♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 8th fret as 8 8 8 10: barre your index finger across fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10.
Tip — The index barre must hold three strings at the 8th fret while the pinky stretches to the 10th fret on the G string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (2) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | F (5) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (5) |
B♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 3 3: index finger on the E string at fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (5) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (2) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ suspended 2nd is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 15 15: index finger on the E string at fret 13, middle finger on the A string at fret 15, ring finger on the D string at fret 15 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 15.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (5) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 2 | C (2) |
| 2 (D) | 15 | 3 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 15 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ suspended 2nd is written as B♭sus2 or B♭. On a keyboard, type Bb because the ♭ symbol is not available. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
B♭ suspended 2nd replaces the third with a Major 2nd (C), while B♭ suspended 4th replaces it with a Perfect 4th (E♭). The sus2 sounds brighter and more open; the sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve.
B♭ suspended 2nd omits the third entirely, leaving B♭, C, and F. B♭ add 9 includes the major third (D) along with the ninth (C), so it has a fuller, more consonant sound.