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F♯ suspended 2nd chord on guitar (F♯sus2)
Also called or written F♯sus2 or F♯
F♯ suspended 2nd contains F♯, G♯, and C♯. The 9th fret shape is an intermediate barre chord that requires a full index finger across three strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionF♯–G♯–C♯F♯sus2×-9-11-11-9-9
- First inversionG♯–C♯–F♯F♯sus2/G♯4-4-4-6-×-×
- Second inversionC♯–F♯–G♯F♯sus2/C♯9-9-11-11-9-9
How do you play an F♯ suspended 2nd chord on guitar?
F♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 9th fret as × 9 11 11 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
IntermediateThe index barre must fret the A, B, and high e strings cleanly while the ring and pinky stretch to the 11th fret.
F♯sus2/G♯ inversion · fret 4
F♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as 4 4 4 6 × ×: barre your index finger across fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
F♯sus2/G♯ inversion · fret 9
F♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 9th fret as × 11 11 11 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the A string at fret 11, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 2 | G♯ (2) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
F♯sus2/C♯ inversion · 9-9-11-11-9-9
F♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 9th fret as 9 9 11 11 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
F♯sus2/C♯ inversion · 9-11-11-11-9-9
F♯ suspended 2nd is played at the 9th fret as 9 11 11 11 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the A string at fret 11, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 2 | G♯ (2) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | G♯ (2) |
| 1 (e) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The major second interval between F♯ and G♯ replaces the third, giving the chord its suspended quality. Compare this with F♯ major, which uses A♯ instead of G♯.
What goes wrong with F♯ suspended 2nd?
- Letting the 6th string ring through adds an E that is not part of F♯ suspended 2nd.
- Flattening the pinky so it touches the 2nd string and deadens the barre note.
When to use it
F♯ suspended 2nd works in F♯ major progressions like F♯–B–C♯–F♯, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV in F♯ major: F♯–C♯–D♯ minor–B. Use it in rock, metal, and fusion when you want a suspended color before resolving to F♯ major.
Changing to and from F♯ suspended 2nd
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 8th fret to reach F suspended 2nd.
- Move to F♯ major by lifting the pinky and placing the middle finger on the 3rd string, 11th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 9th fret position is the standard barre shape. The F♯sus2/G♯ inversions put the second in the bass, creating a softer, less grounded sound. The F♯sus2/C♯ inversions put the fifth in the bass, giving a more stable but still suspended sound.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How do I write F♯ suspended 2nd?
F♯ suspended 2nd is written as F♯ or F♯sus2. The ASCII root spelling is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ suspended 2nd and F♯ add 9?
F♯ suspended 2nd omits the third entirely, leaving only F♯, G♯, and C♯. F♯ add 9 includes the major third A♯ along with the ninth G♯, so it sounds fuller and more resolved.
Can F♯ suspended 2nd be used in place of F♯ minor?
F♯ suspended 2nd has no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It can substitute for F♯ minor in some contexts, but it will sound more open and less dark.