C Suspended 2nd (Csus2)

Download MIDI
1+2+5
C1D3G5
4 4

Notes in C Suspended 2nd

C (root)DG

Inversions

Same notes as C 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

C in the bass

C1D3G5

1st inversion

D in the bass (Csus2/D)

D1G2C5

2nd inversion

G in the bass (Csus2/G)

G1C3D5

Press C, D and G together on the keyboard and you're playing C 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.