Chord type
Suspended 2nd Chords on Piano
The sus2 chord replaces the third with a major second — creating an open, ambiguous sound that is neither major nor minor. Sus2 chords are widely used in pop, rock, ambient, and film music for their ethereal, unresolved quality.
Each key below opens the full reference entry — keyboard diagram, audio, inversions, fingerings, and notation.
Formula: Root – Major 2nd – Perfect 5th
Intervals: 2 + 5 semitones
Scale degrees: 1–2–5
Sound: Open, ambiguous, ethereal, spacious
Symbol: sus2 (Csus2, Dsus2 etc.)
Sus2 vs Sus4: Both replace the third. Sus2 lowers it to the 2nd (open, modern sound). Sus4 raises it to the 4th (tenser, wants to resolve down). Sus2 tends to sound more contemporary; sus4 is more classical. Both are neither major nor minor.
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All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.