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D suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Dsus2)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionD–E–ADsus2×-×-0-2-3-0
- First inversionE–A–DDsus2/E0-0-0-2-3-0
- Second inversionA–D–EDsus2/A×-0-0-2-3-0
How do you play a D suspended 2nd chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
BeginnerThe hardest part is muting the 5th and 6th strings while fretting the 3rd and 2nd strings cleanly.
5th fret
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
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.
Other D chords
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.