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C♯ suspended 2nd chord on bass (C♯sus2)
Also called or written C♯sus2 or C♯
C♯ suspended 2nd contains C♯, D♯, and G♯. The default voicing places D♯ in the bass, giving the chord a tense, second-inversion edge.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionC♯–D♯–G♯C♯sus2no shape on this instrument
- First inversionD♯–G♯–C♯C♯sus2/D♯11-11-11-13
- Second inversionG♯–C♯–D♯C♯sus2/G♯4-6-6-6
How do you play a C♯ suspended 2nd chord on bass?
C♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 11th fret as 11 11 11 13: barre your index finger across fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
IntermediateThe index barre must hold three strings at the 11th fret while the pinky stretches to the 13th fret on the G string.
C♯sus2/G♯ inversion
C♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 6 6: index finger on the E string at fret 4, middle finger on the A string at fret 6, ring finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 1 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 2 | D♯ (2) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The Major 2nd between C♯ and D♯ replaces the third, creating an open, unresolved quality. Compare with C♯ major, which uses a Major 3rd instead.
What goes wrong with C♯ suspended 2nd?
- The A string is muted because the barre finger is not pressing firmly enough at the 11th fret.
- The pinky accidentally touches the D string, dulling the note at the 11th fret.
When to use it
C♯ suspended 2nd works as a passing chord in C♯ major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression: C♯ major–F♯ major–G♯ major–C♯ major. Its open sound suits jazz, fusion, and progressive bass lines.
Changing to and from C♯ suspended 2nd
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 9th fret gives B suspended 2nd.
- Move to C♯ major by lifting the pinky and shifting the barre to fret 9 on the E string while fretting E♯ on the A string at fret 8.
Which voicing to use
The 11th-fret voicing puts D♯ in the bass, which is useful when the chord needs to lead to G♯. The 4th-fret voicing puts G♯ in the bass and is easier to reach in open positions.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ suspended 2nd written?
C♯ suspended 2nd is written as C♯sus2 or C♯. On a keyboard, type C# because the ♯ symbol is not available. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
How does C♯ suspended 2nd differ from C♯ suspended 4th?
C♯ suspended 2nd replaces the third with a Major 2nd (D♯), while C♯ suspended 4th replaces it with a Perfect 4th (F♯). The sus2 sounds brighter and more open; the sus4 has a stronger pull to resolve.
What is the difference between C♯ suspended 2nd and C♯ add 9?
C♯ suspended 2nd omits the third entirely, leaving C♯, D♯, and G♯. C♯ add 9 includes the major third (E♯) along with the ninth (D♯), so it has a fuller, more consonant sound.