Tools / Chords / F suspended 2nd

F suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Fsus2)

Also written Fsus2 or F

F suspended 2nd contains F, G, and C. The open shape is an intermediate grip that uses three fretted notes and one open string.

Open1-3-3-0-1-×

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

F1Root

G2Major 2nd

C5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 2, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionF–G–CFsus2Bass F

First inversionG–C–FFsus2/GBass G

Second inversionC–F–GFsus2/CBass C

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 1st string ring through adds an E that is not part of F suspended 2nd.
Flattening the pinky so it touches the 3rd string and deadens the open G.

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 folk, pop, and country when you want a suspended color before resolving to F major.

Changing to and from F suspended 2nd

Move to F major by lifting the pinky and placing the middle finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret.
Slide the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret to reach G suspended 2nd.

Which voicing to use

The open position is the most common. The 8th fret version is a barre shape with the same voicing higher up. The Fsus2/G inversions put the second in the bass, creating a softer, less grounded sound.

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

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

F suspended 2nd is played in open position as 1 3 3 0 1 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and middle finger on the B string at fret 1. The G string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

Tip — The hardest part is fretting the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 2nd strings while keeping the 3rd string open and muting the 1st string.

String-by-string breakdown

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

8th fret

Barre

F suspended 2nd is played at the 8th fret as × 8 10 10 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	8	1 (barre)	F (1)
4 (D)	10	3	C (5)
3 (G)	10	4	F (1)
2 (B)	8	1 (barre)	G (2)
1 (e)	8	1 (barre)	C (5)

Fsus2/G inversion · open position

Beginner

F suspended 2nd is played in open position as 3 3 3 0 1 ×: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The G string rings open. The high e string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Fsus2/G inversion · fret 3

Barre

F suspended 2nd is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 5 × ×: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5. The B and high e strings stay muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Fsus2/G inversion · fret 8

Barre

F suspended 2nd is played at the 8th fret as × 10 10 10 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, middle finger on the A string at fret 10, ring finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10. The low E string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	muted	—	—
5 (A)	10	2	G (2)
4 (D)	10	3	C (5)
3 (G)	10	4	F (1)
2 (B)	8	1 (barre)	G (2)
1 (e)	8	1 (barre)	C (5)

Common questions

How do I write F suspended 2nd?

F suspended 2nd is written as F or Fsus2.

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.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F (1)

5 (A)

C (5)

4 (D)

F (1)

3 (G)

open

—

G (2)

2 (B)

C (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

1 (barre)

F (1)

4 (D)

C (5)

3 (G)

F (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

G (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

C (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (2)

5 (A)

C (5)

4 (D)

F (1)

3 (G)

open

—

G (2)

2 (B)

C (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

G (2)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

C (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

F (1)

3 (G)

C (5)

2 (B)

muted

—

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

muted

—

5 (A)

G (2)

4 (D)

C (5)

3 (G)

F (1)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

G (2)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

C (5)