A Suspended 2nd (Asus2)

Download MIDI
1+2+5
A1B3E5
4 4

Notes in A Suspended 2nd

A (root)BE

Inversions

Same notes as A Suspended 2nd, with a different chord tone as the lowest note. Useful for smoother movement between chords instead of jumping around the keyboard.

Root position

A in the bass

A1B3E5

1st inversion

B in the bass (Asus2/B)

B1E2A5

2nd inversion

E in the bass (Asus2/E)

E1A3B5

The notes A, B and E make up A Suspended 2nd.

Suspended chords pull the third out entirely, so they land somewhere between major and minor rather than picking a side. Sus2 fills the gap with a major second sitting close to the root, which gives it an open, slightly hollow color. It's a favorite way to add movement to a strummed or arpeggiated part without changing the underlying harmony.

Difficulty: Beginner. Category: Triads. Click any highlighted key on the diagram above, or tab to it and press Enter, to hear that single note. Inversions mark the bass note with a contrasting outline.