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C♯ suspended 2nd chord on guitar (C♯sus2)
Also called or written C♯sus2 or C♯
C♯ suspended 2nd contains C♯, D♯, and G♯. The 4th fret shape is an intermediate barre chord that requires a full index finger across three strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionC♯–D♯–G♯C♯sus2×-4-6-6-4-4
- First inversionD♯–G♯–C♯C♯sus2/D♯×-6-6-6-4-4
- Second inversionG♯–C♯–D♯C♯sus2/G♯4-4-6-6-4-4
How do you play a C♯ suspended 2nd chord on guitar?
C♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as × 4 6 6 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, ring finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
IntermediateThe index barre must fret the A, B, and high e strings cleanly while the ring and pinky stretch to the 6th fret.
C♯sus2/D♯ inversion · fret 4
C♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as × 6 6 6 4 4: barre your index finger across 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. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 2 | D♯ (2) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
C♯sus2/D♯ inversion · fret 11
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. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 4 | G♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
C♯sus2/G♯ inversion · 4-4-6-6-4-4
C♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as 4 4 6 6 4 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
C♯sus2/G♯ inversion · 4-6-6-6-4-4
C♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 6 6 4 4: barre your index finger across 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 2 | D♯ (2) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | G♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (5) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The major second interval between C♯ and D♯ replaces the third, giving the chord its suspended quality. Compare this with C♯ major, which uses E♯ instead of D♯.
What goes wrong with C♯ suspended 2nd?
- Letting the 6th string ring through adds an E that is not part of C♯ suspended 2nd.
- Flattening the pinky so it touches the 2nd string and deadens the barre note.
When to use it
C♯ suspended 2nd works in C♯ major progressions like C♯–F♯–G♯–C♯, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV in C♯ major: C♯–G♯–A♯ minor–F♯. Use it in rock, metal, and fusion when you want a suspended color before resolving to C♯ major.
Changing to and from C♯ suspended 2nd
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 3rd fret to reach C suspended 2nd.
- Move to C♯ major by lifting the pinky and placing the middle finger on the 3rd string, 6th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret position is the standard barre shape. The C♯sus2/D♯ inversions put the second in the bass, creating a softer, less grounded sound. The C♯sus2/G♯ inversions put the fifth in the bass, giving a more stable but still suspended sound.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How do I write C♯ suspended 2nd?
C♯ suspended 2nd is written as C♯ or C♯sus2. The ASCII root spelling is C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ suspended 2nd and C♯ add 9?
C♯ suspended 2nd omits the third entirely, leaving only C♯, D♯, and G♯. C♯ add 9 includes the major third E♯ along with the ninth D♯, so it sounds fuller and more resolved.
Can C♯ suspended 2nd be used in place of C♯ minor?
C♯ suspended 2nd has no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It can substitute for C♯ minor in some contexts, but it will sound more open and less dark.