B sus2 (Bsus2) chord on mandolin

Sus2 chord (a major second instead of the third) on B: the notes of the Bsus2 chord are B – C♯ – F♯.

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 6medium

Position 9medium

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What the Bsus2 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 Bsus2 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	B	root
2	C♯	major second (2 semitones)
5	F♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 2, index finger (F♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, ring finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, ring finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 4, ring finger (B3)

Position 4

String 1 (E): fret 7, little finger (B5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, ring finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, middle finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 4, index finger (B3)

Position 6

String 1 (E): fret 9, little finger (C♯6)
String 2 (A): fret 9, little finger (F♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 9, little finger (B4)
String 4 (G): fret 6, index finger (C♯4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Bsus2 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

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

Similar chords and substitutes

If Bsus2 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

B – resolves the suspension to major
Bm – or to minor

Same notes

F♯sus4 – the same notes with a different root

Richer versions

Badd9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
B9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
Bm9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
Bmaj9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Bsus2 chord?

B, C♯, F♯. The root is B; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major second, perfect fifth.

What is the easiest way to play Bsus2 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 4 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

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.

Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?

In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.