D# Suspended 2nd (D#sus2)

Also written as Eb Suspended 2nd (Eb and D# are the same key).

1+2+5
E#D#A#
4 4
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Notes in D# Suspended 2nd

D# (root)E#A#

Inversions

Same notes as D# 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

D# in the bass

E#D#A#

1st inversion

E# in the bass

E#A#D#

2nd inversion

A# in the bass

E#A#D#

Play D#, E# and A# together and you get D# 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 key on the diagram above to hear that single note.