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C suspended 2nd chord on bass (Csus2)
Also called or written Csus2 or C
C suspended 2nd is built from C, D, and G. The open shape with one muted string is a beginner-friendly voicing.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionC–D–GCsus2×-3-0-0
- First inversionD–G–CCsus2/D10-10-10-12
- Second inversionG–C–DCsus2/G3-3-0-0
How do you play a C suspended 2nd chord on bass?
C suspended 2nd is played in open position as × 3 0 0: index finger on the A string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (1) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
BeginnerMuting the E string while fretting the A string at fret 3 requires a light thumb touch.
Csus2/D inversion
C suspended 2nd is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 12: barre your index finger across fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (2) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
| 2 (D) | 10 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (5) |
Csus2/G inversion · open position
C suspended 2nd is played in open position as 3 3 0 0: index finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (5) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
Csus2/G inversion · fret 3
C suspended 2nd is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 5 5: index finger on the E string at fret 3, middle finger on the A string at fret 5, ring finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (5) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (2) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (5) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C suspended 2nd uses the formula 1, 2, 5, replacing the third with a major second. The interval between C and D creates the suspended quality. Contrast it with C major, which contains E instead of D.
What goes wrong with C suspended 2nd?
- Letting the open E string ring through, adding a note outside the chord.
- Pressing the index finger too hard and bending the A string sharp.
When to use it
C suspended 2nd works as a substitute for C major in the I–IV–V–I progression C–F–G–C. It suits folk, pop, and ballads where the third is left open.
Changing to and from C suspended 2nd
- Move to C major by fretting the A string at fret 3 and the D string at fret 2.
- Move to G major by fretting the E string at fret 3 and leaving the A, D, and G strings open.
Which voicing to use
The open C suspended 2nd shape puts C in the bass for a grounded sound; the Csus2/D inversion at fret 10 puts D in the bass for a floating feel.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C suspended 2nd written?
C suspended 2nd is written as C or Csus2. The root is C, and there are no alternate symbols or enharmonic names.
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.
Why is the E string muted in the open C suspended 2nd?
The open E string is muted because E is not a chord tone of C suspended 2nd. Muting it keeps the voicing clean.