C♯ sus2 (C♯sus2) chord on ukulele

Sus2 chord (a major second instead of the third) on C♯: the notes of the C♯sus2 chord are C♯ – D♯ – G♯. The same chord with a different spelling: D♭ sus2 (D♭sus2).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 3medium

Position 6medium

Position 8medium

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 C♯sus2 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 C♯sus2 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

Basic shape

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

Position 3

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

Position 6

String 1 (A): fret 6, index finger (D♯5)
String 2 (E): fret 9, little finger (C♯5)
String 3 (C): fret 8, ring finger (G♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 8, ring finger (D♯5)

Tuning: G C E A (the G string is higher than the C – standard re-entrant ukulele tuning). In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The C♯sus2 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

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

Similar chords and substitutes

If C♯sus2 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
C♯m – or to minor

Same notes

A♭sus4 – the same notes with a different root

Richer versions

C♯add9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
C♯9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
C♯m9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
C♯maj9 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C♯sus2 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 C♯sus2 on ukulele?

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.

How is the C♯sus2 chord written?

The chord symbol is C♯sus2 (also written C#sus2), and its full name is C♯ sus2.