Explore chords · Guitar
C suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Csus2)
Also called or written Csus2 or C
C suspended 2nd contains C, D, and G. The open shape is a beginner-friendly grip that uses two fretted notes and two open strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionC–D–GCsus2×-3-0-0-1-3
- First inversionD–G–CCsus2/D×-×-0-0-1-3
- Second inversionG–C–DCsus2/G3-3-0-0-1-3
How do you play a C suspended 2nd chord on guitar?
C suspended 2nd is played in open position as × 3 0 0 1 3: middle finger on the A string at fret 3, index finger on the B string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (5) |
BeginnerThe hardest part is keeping the open strings clear while fretting the 5th, 2nd, and 1st strings.
Open · ×-3-0-0-3-3
C suspended 2nd is played in open position as × 3 0 0 3 3: index finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (2) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (5) |
3rd fret
C suspended 2nd is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 5 5 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (1) |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (5) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 1 (barre) | D (2) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (5) |
Csus2/D inversion · open position
C suspended 2nd is played in open position as × × 0 0 1 3: index finger on the B string at fret 1 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (2) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (5) |
| 2 (B) | 1 | 1 | C (1) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 2 | G (5) |
Csus2/D inversion · fret 3
C suspended 2nd is played at the 3rd fret as × 5 5 5 3 3: barre your index finger across 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. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (2) |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 3 | G (5) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 1 (barre) | D (2) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 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 middle finger so it touches the 4th string and deadens the open D.
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 folk, pop, and country when you want a suspended color before resolving to C major.
Changing to and from C suspended 2nd
- Move to C major by lifting the middle finger and placing it on the 4th string, 2nd fret.
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 1st fret to reach B♭ suspended 2nd.
Which voicing to use
The open position is the easiest and most common. The 3rd fret version is a barre shape with the same voicing higher up. The Csus2/D inversions put the second in the bass, creating a softer, less grounded sound.
Other C chords
Common questions
How do I write C suspended 2nd?
C suspended 2nd is written as C or Csus2.
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.