Tools / Chords / B suspended 2nd

B suspended 2nd chord on ukulele (Bsus2)

Also written Bsus2 or B

Ukulele · Bsus2/C♯ inversion · B on top

B suspended 2nd contains B, C♯, and F♯. The wide stretch across four frets makes this an intermediate shape.

Bsus2/C♯ inversion · B on top4-1-2-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

B1Root

C♯2Major 2nd

F♯5Perfect 5th

Formula 1, 2, 5

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

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

Root positionB–C♯–F♯Bsus2Bass B

First inversionC♯–F♯–BBsus2/C♯Bass C♯

Second inversionF♯–B–C♯Bsus2/F♯Bass F♯

Why it sounds like that

B suspended 2nd is built from the formula 1, 2, 5. The major 2nd between B and C♯ replaces the major 3rd, giving the chord its open, unresolved sound. Compare it to B major, which uses D♯ instead of C♯.

What goes wrong with B suspended 2nd?

The pinky flattens onto the C string, deadening the note at the 1st fret.
The index finger lifts off the C string, causing a buzz.

When to use it

B suspended 2nd works as a passing chord in B major progressions like B–E–F♯–B, the I–IV–V–I. It suits rock and pop where the suspended sound adds tension. Try it before B major to delay resolution.

Changing to and from B suspended 2nd

Move to B major by lifting the middle and ring fingers and fretting the E and A strings at the 2nd fret with a barre.

Which voicing to use

The default voicing puts C♯ in the bass, giving a light, open feel. For a root-position sound, use the 9th fret shape with B in the bass.

How do you play a B suspended 2nd chord on ukulele?

Bsus2/C♯ inversion · B on top

Intermediate● On the diagram

B suspended 2nd is played at the 1st fret as 4 1 2 2: pinky finger on the G string at fret 4, index finger on the C string at fret 1, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2.

Tip — The pinky must reach the 4th fret while the index finger stays at the 1st fret, creating a wide stretch.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	4	4	B (1)
3 (C)	1	1	C♯ (2)
2 (E)	2	2	F♯ (5)
1 (A)	2	3	B (1)

Bsus2/F♯ inversion · fret 4

Intermediate

B suspended 2nd is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 7 4: index finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, pinky finger on the E string at fret 7 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	4	1	B (1)
3 (C)	6	3	F♯ (5)
2 (E)	7	4	B (1)
1 (A)	4	2	C♯ (2)

9th fret

Barre

B suspended 2nd is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the G string at fret 11 and ring finger on the C string at fret 11.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	11	2	F♯ (5)
3 (C)	11	3	B (1)
2 (E)	9	1 (barre)	C♯ (2)
1 (A)	9	1 (barre)	F♯ (5)

Bsus2/F♯ inversion · fret 6

Intermediate

B suspended 2nd is played at the 6th fret as 6 6 7 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 6 and ring finger on the E string at fret 7. The A string stays muted.

String-by-string breakdown

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

Bsus2/C♯ inversion · C♯ on top

Intermediate

B suspended 2nd is played at the 1st fret as 4 1 2 4: ring finger on the G string at fret 4, index finger on the C string at fret 1, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	4	3	B (1)
3 (C)	1	1	C♯ (2)
2 (E)	2	2	F♯ (5)
1 (A)	4	4	C♯ (2)

Common questions

How does B suspended 2nd differ from B add 9?

B suspended 2nd omits the 3rd entirely, leaving only B, C♯, and F♯. B add 9 includes the major 3rd D♯ along with the 9th C♯, so it sounds fuller and more resolved.

Can B suspended 2nd replace B major in a progression?

Yes, but it will sound less settled. Use it as a temporary substitution to create movement, then resolve to B major.

What is the easiest way to play B suspended 2nd?

The F♯ inversion at frets 6-6-7-× is easier because it avoids the wide stretch and mutes the A string.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

B (1)

3 (C)

C♯ (2)

2 (E)

F♯ (5)

1 (A)

B (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

B (1)

3 (C)

F♯ (5)

2 (E)

B (1)

1 (A)

C♯ (2)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

F♯ (5)

3 (C)

B (1)

2 (E)

1 (barre)

C♯ (2)

1 (A)

1 (barre)

F♯ (5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

C♯ (2)

3 (C)

F♯ (5)

2 (E)

B (1)

1 (A)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

B (1)

3 (C)

C♯ (2)

2 (E)

F♯ (5)

1 (A)

C♯ (2)