Tools / Chords / C suspended 2nd

C suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Csus2)

Also 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.

Open · ×-3-0-0-1-3×-3-0-0-1-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

C1Root

D2Major 2nd

G5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 2, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionC–D–GCsus2Bass C

First inversionD–G–CCsus2/DBass D

Second inversionG–C–DCsus2/GBass G

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.

How do you play a C suspended 2nd chord on guitar?

Open · ×-3-0-0-1-3

Beginner● On the diagram

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.

Tip — The hardest part is keeping the open strings clear while fretting the 5th, 2nd, and 1st strings.

String-by-string 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)

Open · ×-3-0-0-3-3

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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

Barre

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.

String-by-string 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

Beginner

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.

String-by-string 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

Barre

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.

String-by-string 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)

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.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

open

—

D (2)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

C (1)

4 (D)

open

—

D (2)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

D (2)

1 (e)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (1)

4 (D)

G (5)

3 (G)

C (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

open

—

D (2)

3 (G)

open

—

G (5)

2 (B)

C (1)

1 (e)

G (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

D (2)

4 (D)

G (5)

3 (G)

C (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

D (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

G (5)