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C#sus2 Chord

C#sus2 uses D 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: C sharp-D sharp-G sharp
  • Symbol: C#sus2
  • Isus2 in C# major
  • Second instead of third
Switch chordC#sus2

How to play a C#sus2 chord

Notes: C# - D# - G# · symbol C#sus2

  • Root position

    C# - D# - G#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    D# - G# - C#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    G# - C# - D#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does C#sus2 belong?

The second replaces the third, so C#sus2 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 C# majorOpen color
    Isus2

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

    C#IC#sus2Isus2C#I
  • In Ab majorAiry step away
    IVsus2

    An open-sounding IV in Ab major. In this key the chord is spelled Dbsus2.

    AbIDbsus2IVsus2EbVAbI

Progressions to try

  • C#C#sus2C#

    The chord moves from C# to C#sus2 and back, so you can hear the missing third return.

  • AbDbsus2EbAb

    Here C#sus2 colors the IV chord before the loop continues to V and back home. Here the same sounding chord is written Dbsus2 rather than C#sus2.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with x46644, a barre at the 4th fret. x-x-11-13-14-11 gives you another position higher up.

On ukulele, start with 1344, played at the 1st fret. 6896 gives a higher version.

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

What are the inversions?

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

  • Root position: C sharp-D sharp-G sharp, with C sharp lowest.
  • First inversion: D sharp-G sharp-C sharp, written C#sus2/D# if D sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: G sharp-C sharp-D sharp, written C#sus2/G# if G 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 C#sus2 differ from C#?

Keep C sharp and G sharp; replace the second, D sharp, with the major third, E sharp, to make C#. 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 C# for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • C#sus2

    C# - D# - G#
    C4

    C# sus2

  • C#

    C# - E# - G#
    C4

    C# major

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