Tools / Chords / E suspended 2nd

E suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Esus2)

Also written Esus2 or E

E suspended 2nd contains E, F♯, and B. The 7th fret shape is an intermediate barre chord that requires a full index finger across three strings.

7th fret×-7-9-9-7-7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

E1Root

F♯2Major 2nd

B5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 2, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionE–F♯–BEsus2Bass E

First inversionF♯–B–EEsus2/F♯Bass F♯

Second inversionB–E–F♯Esus2/BBass B

Why it sounds like that

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

What goes wrong with E suspended 2nd?

Letting the 6th string ring through adds an E that is not part of E suspended 2nd.
Flattening the pinky so it touches the 2nd string and deadens the barre note.

When to use it

E suspended 2nd works in E major progressions like E–A–B–E, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV in E major: E–B–C♯ minor–A. Use it in rock, metal, and fusion when you want a suspended color before resolving to E major.

Changing to and from E suspended 2nd

Slide the shape down one fret to the 6th fret to reach E♭ suspended 2nd.
Move to E major by lifting the pinky and placing the middle finger on the 3rd string, 9th fret.

Which voicing to use

The 7th fret position is the standard barre shape. The Esus2/F♯ inversions put the second in the bass, creating a softer, less grounded sound. The Esus2/B inversions put the fifth in the bass, giving a more stable but still suspended sound.

How do you play an E suspended 2nd chord on guitar?

7th fret

Barre● On the diagram

E suspended 2nd is played at the 7th fret as × 7 9 9 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9. The low E string stays muted.

Tip — The index barre must fret the A, B, and high e strings cleanly while the ring and pinky stretch to the 9th fret.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	7	1 (barre)	E (1)
4 (D)	9	3	B (5)
3 (G)	9	4	E (1)
2 (B)	7	1 (barre)	F♯ (2)
1 (e)	7	1 (barre)	B (5)

Esus2/F♯ inversion · fret 2

Barre

E suspended 2nd is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 2 4 × ×: barre your index finger across fret 2 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4. The B and high e strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Esus2/F♯ inversion · fret 7

Barre

E suspended 2nd is played at the 7th fret as × 9 9 9 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	9	2	F♯ (2)
4 (D)	9	3	B (5)
3 (G)	9	4	E (1)
2 (B)	7	1 (barre)	F♯ (2)
1 (e)	7	1 (barre)	B (5)

Esus2/B inversion · 7-7-9-9-7-7

Barre

E suspended 2nd is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 9 9 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	7	1 (barre)	B (5)
5 (A)	7	1 (barre)	E (1)
4 (D)	9	3	B (5)
3 (G)	9	4	E (1)
2 (B)	7	1 (barre)	F♯ (2)
1 (e)	7	1 (barre)	B (5)

Esus2/B inversion · 7-9-9-9-7-7

Barre

E suspended 2nd is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 9 9 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, middle finger on the A string at fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	7	1 (barre)	B (5)
5 (A)	9	2	F♯ (2)
4 (D)	9	3	B (5)
3 (G)	9	4	E (1)
2 (B)	7	1 (barre)	F♯ (2)
1 (e)	7	1 (barre)	B (5)

Common questions

How do I write E suspended 2nd?

E suspended 2nd is written as E or Esus2.

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

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

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

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

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

E (1)

4 (D)

B (5)

3 (G)

E (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F♯ (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

F♯ (2)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (1)

3 (G)

B (5)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

F♯ (2)

4 (D)

B (5)

3 (G)

E (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F♯ (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

B (5)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

E (1)

4 (D)

B (5)

3 (G)

E (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F♯ (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

B (5)

5 (A)

F♯ (2)

4 (D)

B (5)

3 (G)

E (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

F♯ (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

B (5)