Tools / Chords / D suspended 2nd

D suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Dsus2)

Also written Dsus2 or D

D suspended 2nd contains D, E, and A. The open shape is a beginner-friendly grip that uses two fretted notes and two open strings.

Open×-×-0-2-3-0

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

D1Root

E2Major 2nd

A5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 2, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionD–E–ADsus2Bass D

First inversionE–A–DDsus2/EBass E

Second inversionA–D–EDsus2/ABass A

Why it sounds like that

D suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The major second interval between D and E replaces the third, giving the chord its suspended quality. Compare this with D major, which uses F♯ instead of E.

What goes wrong with D suspended 2nd?

Letting the 5th string ring through adds an A that is not part of D suspended 2nd.
Flattening the index finger so it touches the 4th string and deadens the open D.

When to use it

D suspended 2nd works in D major progressions like D–G–A–D, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV in D major: D–A–B minor–G. Use it in folk, pop, and country when you want a suspended color before resolving to D major.

Changing to and from D suspended 2nd

Move to D major by lifting the index finger and placing the ring finger on the 2nd string, 3rd fret.
Slide the shape up two frets to the 5th fret to reach E suspended 2nd.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the easiest and most common. The 5th fret version is a barre shape with the same voicing higher up. The Dsus2/E inversions put the second in the bass, creating a softer, less grounded sound.

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

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

D suspended 2nd is played in open position as × × 0 2 3 0: index finger on the G string at fret 2 and middle finger on the B string at fret 3. The D and high e strings ring open. The low E and A strings stay muted.

Tip — The hardest part is muting the 5th and 6th strings while fretting the 3rd and 2nd strings cleanly.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	muted	—	—
4 (D)	open	—	D (1)
3 (G)	2	1	A (5)
2 (B)	3	2	D (1)
1 (e)	open	—	E (2)

5th fret

Barre

D suspended 2nd is played at the 5th fret as × 5 7 7 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	5	1 (barre)	D (1)
4 (D)	7	3	A (5)
3 (G)	7	4	D (1)
2 (B)	5	1 (barre)	E (2)
1 (e)	5	1 (barre)	A (5)

Dsus2/E inversion · 0-0-0-2-3-0

Beginner

D suspended 2nd is played in open position as 0 0 0 2 3 0: index finger on the G string at fret 2 and middle finger on the B string at fret 3. The low E, A, D and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	open	—	E (2)
5 (A)	open	—	A (5)
4 (D)	open	—	D (1)
3 (G)	2	1	A (5)
2 (B)	3	2	D (1)
1 (e)	open	—	E (2)

Dsus2/E inversion · 0-0-2-2-3-0

Beginner

D suspended 2nd is played in open position as 0 0 2 2 3 0: index finger on the D string at fret 2, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3. The low E, A and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	open	—	E (2)
5 (A)	open	—	A (5)
4 (D)	2	1	E (2)
3 (G)	2	2	A (5)
2 (B)	3	3	D (1)
1 (e)	open	—	E (2)

Dsus2/E inversion · ×-7-7-7-5-5

Barre

D suspended 2nd is played at the 5th fret as × 7 7 7 5 5: barre your index finger across fret 5, middle finger on the A string at fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	7	2	E (2)
4 (D)	7	3	A (5)
3 (G)	7	4	D (1)
2 (B)	5	1 (barre)	E (2)
1 (e)	5	1 (barre)	A (5)

Common questions

How do I write D suspended 2nd?

D suspended 2nd is written as D or Dsus2.

What is the difference between D suspended 2nd and D add 9?

D suspended 2nd omits the third entirely, leaving only D, E, and A. D add 9 includes the major third F♯ along with the ninth E, so it sounds fuller and more resolved.

Can D suspended 2nd be used in place of D minor?

D suspended 2nd has no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It can substitute for D minor in some contexts, but it will sound more open and less dark.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

muted

—

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (2)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

D (1)

4 (D)

A (5)

3 (G)

D (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

E (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

A (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (2)

5 (A)

open

—

A (5)

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (2)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (2)

5 (A)

open

—

A (5)

4 (D)

E (2)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (2)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

E (2)

4 (D)

A (5)

3 (G)

D (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

E (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

A (5)