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F#sus2 Chord

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

How to play an F#sus2 chord

Notes: F# - G# - C# · symbol F#sus2

  • Root position

    F# - G# - C#
    C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    G# - C# - F#
    C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    C# - F# - G#
    C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does F#sus2 belong?

The second replaces the third, so F#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 F# majorOpen color
    Isus2

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

    F#IF#sus2Isus2F#I
  • In C# majorAiry step away
    IVsus2

    An open-sounding IV in C# major.

    C#IF#sus2IVsus2G#VC#I

Progressions to try

  • F#F#sus2F#

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

  • C#F#sus2G#C#

    Here F#sus2 colors the IV chord before the loop continues to V and back home.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with xx4674, played at the 4th fret. Mute any strings marked x. The x-9-11-11-9-9 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.

On ukulele, start with 1124, played at the 1st fret. The 6644 grip moves the chord to another register.

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

What are the inversions?

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

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

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

  • F#sus2

    F# - G# - C#
    C5

    F# sus2

  • F#

    F# - A# - C#
    C5

    F# major

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