Sus2 Chords on Guitar: How to Play Them and When to Use Them

The sus2 chord is one of the most beautiful and versatile chords in the guitarist’s toolkit. It sounds open, unresolved, slightly ethereal - neither major nor minor, just floating. And yet it’s often easier to play than a standard barre chord.

If you’ve heard the opening of “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House, “Pinball Wizard” by The Who, or countless acoustic pop songs, you’ve heard sus2 chords at work.

What Is a Sus2 Chord?

A suspended chord replaces the 3rd of a major or minor chord with another note. In a sus2, the 3rd is replaced by the 2nd scale degree.

Major chord: Root - 3rd - 5th
Sus2 chord: Root - 2nd - 5th

Because the 3rd is gone, the chord has no major or minor quality - it’s neither happy nor sad. It’s “suspended” - harmonically ambiguous, wanting to resolve but not committing.

Dsus2 example: D - E - A (the 2nd of D is E)

Instead of D - F# - A (D major), you replace the F# with E.

Essential Sus2 Chord Shapes

Dsus2

This is the most beginner-friendly sus2 shape:

e|---0---|
B|---3---|
G|---2---|
D|---0---|
A|---x---|
E|---x---|

Compare it to D major (x x 0 2 3 2) - only one note changes. The 3 on the B string becomes a 3 (same), and the 2 on the e string becomes 0. Clean, easy, beautiful.

Asus2

e|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---2---|
D|---2---|
A|---0---|
E|---x---|

Asus2 = A - B - E. No 3rd. Open strings ring freely. This chord sounds enormous on an acoustic guitar.

Esus2

e|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---1---|
D|---2---|
A|---2---|
E|---0---|

Esus2 = E - F# - B. Similar to standard E major but with B on the G string replacing G#.

Gsus2

e|---3---|
B|---3---|
G|---0---|
D|---0---|
A|---2---|
E|---3---|

Or a simpler high-string version:

e|---3---|
B|---3---|
G|---0---|
D|---x---|
A|---x---|
E|---x---|

Csus2

e|---3---|
B|---3---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---3---|
E|---x---|

Sus2 vs Sus4

Both suspensions remove the 3rd, but they replace it with different notes:

Sus2: Root - 2nd - 5th (open, brighter, more modern sound)
Sus4: Root - 4th - 5th (heavier, more tension, classic rock sound)

Dsus2: D - E - A
Dsus4: D - G - A

Try both back to back with D major in the middle. You’ll immediately hear the different colors: sus2 is airy and lighter, sus4 is weightier and more dramatic.

How Sus2 Chords Work Harmonically

Sus2 chords work well as:

Colorized versions of regular chords: Instead of playing G throughout a whole section, alternate G - Gsus2 - G. The suspension adds motion and shimmer without changing the underlying harmony.

Transitions between chords: A sus2 chord can smooth the movement between two distant chords by being harmonically neutral - it doesn’t commit to a key center.

Emotional color: Sus2 chords have an introspective, spacious quality. They’re popular in ambient music, emotional ballads, and any song that wants to feel unresolved or searching.

Sus2 in Chord Progressions

Simple substitution

Replace any I, IV, or V chord with its sus2 version for color. In G major:

G major becomes Gsus2
C major becomes Csus2
D major becomes Dsus2

This creates a lighter, more open-sounding version of the same harmonic movement.

Resolution pattern

Sus2 resolves naturally to the major chord with the same root. This creates a beautiful arrival feel:

Dsus2 - D major: the E (2nd) steps up to F# (3rd) Asus2 - A major: the B (2nd) steps up to C# (3rd)

Practice this resolution: strum Dsus2, let it ring, then move to D major. Hear how the suspended note “resolves.”

Sus2 into minor

Sus2 can also resolve to the minor chord: Dsus2 - Dm: the E (2nd) steps down to F (b3rd)

This creates a more dramatic, darker resolution compared to resolving to major.

Common Songs Using Sus2 Chords

Sus2 chords are everywhere once you listen for them:

“Dust in the Wind” (Kansas) - uses sus2 during arpeggiated intro
“Good Riddance” (Green Day) - Dsus2 appears in the chord progression
Many acoustic pop and alternative songs from the 90s and 2000s

Try This in Guitar Wiz

Guitar Wiz’s Chord Library includes sus2 chords for every root note - just search for “sus2” or look up any note followed by “sus2.” You’ll see the chord diagram immediately and can compare it with the regular major and sus4 versions of the same chord.

Use the multiple positions feature to find sus2 voicings beyond the standard open shapes. Higher-up-the-neck sus2 voicings have a different character than open ones - brighter, more bell-like - and are worth exploring.

Build a simple progression in Song Maker using a mix of regular and sus2 chords - for example G - Dsus2 - Asus2 - C. This kind of progression sounds instantly recognizable from folk, indie, and pop music.

Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store · Explore the Chord Library →

FAQ

What does “sus” mean in guitar chords?

“Sus” is short for “suspended.” A suspended chord removes the 3rd of the chord and replaces it with either the 2nd (sus2) or 4th (sus4), creating an unresolved, floating harmonic quality.

Is sus2 the same as add9?

Not exactly. An add9 chord keeps the 3rd AND adds the 9th (which is the 2nd an octave up). Sus2 removes the 3rd and replaces it with the 2nd. Sus2 is neither major nor minor; add9 is clearly major.

Are sus2 chords beginner-friendly?

Yes - many sus2 shapes are actually easier than barre chords and some require fewer fingers than standard open chords. Dsus2 and Asus2 are excellent beginner chords.