akousia
Start here

Bsus2 Chord

Bsus2 uses C sharp instead of a third. Without that major-or-minor note, the chord leaves its quality open until the next chord supplies more context.

  • Notes: B-C sharp-F sharp
  • Symbol: Bsus2
  • Isus2 in B major
  • Second instead of third
Switch chordBsus2

How to play a Bsus2 chord

Notes: B - C# - F# · symbol Bsus2

  • Root position

    B - C# - F#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    C# - F# - B
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    F# - B - C#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does Bsus2 belong?

The second replaces the third, so Bsus2 can briefly interrupt a major chord without introducing a new root.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In B majorOpen color
    Isus2

    Without a third the chord is neither major nor minor: open and unresolved.

    BIBsus2Isus2BI
  • In F# majorAiry step away
    IVsus2

    An open-sounding IV in F# major.

    F#IBsus2IVsus2C#VF#I

Progressions to try

  • BBsus2B

    The chord moves from B to Bsus2 and back, so you can hear the missing third return.

  • F#Bsus2C#F#

    Here Bsus2 colors the IV chord before the loop continues to V and back home.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with x24422, a barre at the 2nd fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The x-x-9-11-12-9 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.

On ukulele, start with 4122, played at the 1st fret. The 4674 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play B-C sharp-F sharp. Move B up an octave to reach the first inversion, C sharp-F sharp-B; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

B is the root, C sharp the second and F sharp the fifth. There is no third in this chord.

  • Root position: B-C sharp-F sharp, with B lowest.
  • First inversion: C sharp-F sharp-B, written Bsus2/C# if C sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: F sharp-B-C sharp, written Bsus2/F# if F sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Bsus2 differ from B?

Keep B and F sharp; replace the second, C sharp, with the major third, D sharp, to make B. A sus2 chord does not keep the third alongside the second. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See B for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Bsus2

    B - C# - F#
    C4

    B sus2

  • B

    B - D# - F#
    C4

    B major

Try another chord