C sus2 (Csus2) chord on guitar

Sus2 chord (a major second instead of the third) on C: the notes of the Csus2 chord are C – D – G.

Dots show:

Open positioneasy

A shape, fret 3medium

Position 5medium

Position 7medium

D shape, fret 10medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the Csus2 chord sounds like

In a sus2 chord a major second replaces the third, so it is neither major nor minor: it sounds open and floating. It often decorates a major or minor chord.

Notes of the Csus2 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C	root
2	D	major second (2 semitones)
5	G	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Open position

String 1 (e): fret 3, little finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, index finger (C4)
String 3 (G): open (G3)
String 4 (D): open (D3)
String 5 (A): fret 3, ring finger (C3)
String 6 (E): not played

A shape, fret 3, barre at fret 3

String 1 (e): fret 3, index finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (D4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, little finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G3)
String 5 (A): fret 3, index finger (C3)
String 6 (E): not played

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 3; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 5, barre at fret 5

String 1 (e): not played
String 2 (B): not played
String 3 (G): fret 7, ring finger (D4)
String 4 (D): fret 5, index finger (G3)
String 5 (A): fret 5, index finger (D3)
String 6 (E): fret 8, little finger (C3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 5; your other fingers press the higher frets.

The “C, A, G, E and D shapes” are the CAGED system: you slide the shape of the open C, A, G, E or D chord up the neck and your index finger (a barre) takes over the job of the nut. That way the same chord can be played in five places, anywhere on the fretboard.

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Playing Csus2 with a capo

A capo clamps all the strings at one fret, so a familiar open shape sounds higher. You can also get a Csus2 chord with these open shapes:

Capo: fret 3
shape: Asus2

Rework a whole song for a capo: chord transposer →

Which keys is it in?

The Csus2 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

C major: Isus2 (tonic)
C minor: Isus2 (tonic)
F major: Vsus2 (dominant)
G major: IVsus2 (subdominant)
G minor: IVsus2 (subdominant)
E♭ major: VIsus2
B♭ major: IIsus2
D minor: VIIsus2
A minor: IIIsus2
E minor: VIsus2

Similar chords and substitutes

If Csus2 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

C – resolves the suspension to major
Cm – or to minor

Same notes

Gsus4 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

C5 – all 2 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

Cadd9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
Cm9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
Cmaj9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Csus2 chord?

C, D, G. The root is C; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major second, perfect fifth.

What is the easiest way to play Csus2 on guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Open position”, rated easy. We show 6 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck. With a capo you can also play it as a Asus2 shape at fret 3.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the Csus2 chord written?

The chord symbol is Csus2, and its full name is C sus2.