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F suspended 2nd chord on guitar (Fsus2)
Also called or 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.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 5
- Root positionF–G–CFsus21-3-3-0-1-×
- First inversionG–C–FFsus2/G3-3-3-0-1-×
- Second inversionC–F–GFsus2/C×-3-3-0-1-1
How do you play an F suspended 2nd chord on guitar?
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.
Full note and interval 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 | — | — |
IntermediateThe hardest part is fretting the 6th, 5th, 4th, and 2nd strings while keeping the 3rd string open and muting the 1st string.
8th fret
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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
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.
Full note and interval 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) |
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.
Other F chords
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.