Csus2 is C with the third taken out and a D put in its place. The result is neither happy nor sad: it floats. On guitar it is also one of the friendliest chords to play, because two of its three notes ring on open strings. Learn x30013 first, then hear what it does next to a plain C, and you will start finding places for it in songs you already know.
Csus2 chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: C suspended second
- Symbol: Csus2
- Notes: C, D, G
Each shape below is written from the thickest string to the thinnest: a
number is the fret, 0 an open string, x a string you
do not play. New to this? See how to read chord diagrams.
| Shape | Frets, low E to high E | Notes, low to high | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Csus2, open | x30013 | C D G C G | The standard open Csus2: C on the fifth string, D and G ringing open. |
| Csus2, open (high D) | x30033 | C D G D G | Same chord with D on top as well: a little brighter, and a common alternative fingering. |
| Csus2, four strings | x3553x | C G C D | A movable shape with no open strings. Useful when you need a tighter, more controlled sound. |
| Csus2, barre | x35533 | C G C D G | The A sus2 shape barred at the third fret. Slide it anywhere: the root is on the fifth string. |
Read each diagram from the thickest string on the left to the thinnest on the right. A cross means the string is not played, a circle means it rings open.
Csus2 on the neck: every C, D, G
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of Csus2: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still Csus2.
How to play Csus2, step by step
1. The open shape: x30013
Third finger on the fifth string (A) at fret 3: that is C, the root. First finger on the second string (B) at fret 1, another C. Fourth finger on the high E at fret 3, which gives G. Leave the fourth and third strings open: they give D and G. Start the strum on the fifth string.
2. Check the open D
The open fourth string is the note that makes this chord a sus2. If the third finger leans on it, the D dies and you are left with a thin C power chord. Pick the strings one by one, arch the third finger, and listen for the D before you strum.
3. The variant: x30033
Move the note on the second string from fret 1 to fret 3. Now the second string gives D instead of C, so the chord has D twice and a brighter top. Both versions are Csus2; pick the one that is easier to reach from the chord before.
4. Movable: x35533
Barre the first finger across fret 3 from the fifth string down, third finger on the fourth string at fret 5, fourth finger on the third string at fret 5. The second and first strings stay on the barre. This is the A sus2 shape (x02200) moved up three frets, so it works for any sus2 with the root on the fifth string.
Csus2 next to C, Cm and Cadd9
The quickest way to understand Csus2 is to play it beside its neighbors. Only one note changes each time.
| Chord | Shape | Notes | What you hear |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | x32010 | C, E, G | The major third E: settled and bright. |
| Cm | x35543 | C, Eb, G | The minor third Eb: darker. |
| Csus2 | x30013 | C, D, G | No third at all: open, waiting. |
| Cadd9 | x32030 | C, E, G, D | The third is back, with D added: rich, not suspended. |
Csus2 and Gsus4 share the same three notes, C, D and G. When the bass is C and the song lives around C, the chord is a Csus2. See also the pages for C, C minor and Cadd9.
Where to use Csus2
Csus2 is a color, not a replacement for every C. It works best where the music has room to breathe: an intro, the last bar of a phrase, a slow strum. These are the moves to practice, four beats per chord at first.
| Change | Shapes | What to listen for |
|---|---|---|
| C, Csus2, C | x32010, x30013, x32010 | E drops to D and comes back. The third finger stays put on the fifth string. |
| Csus2, C, Am, G | x30013, x32010, x02210, 320003 | Open the loop with the suspension, then let C settle it. |
| C, Csus2, G, F | x32010, x30013, 320003, xx3211 | Csus2 shares D and G with the G chord that follows it. |
| Csus2 and Csus4 | x30013 to x33011 | Two suspensions around the same C: second, then fourth. |
Its sibling, with F in place of D, is on the Csus4 page. The same idea on D lives on the Dsus2 page.
Common Csus2 mistakes
| Mistake | Why it matters | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Strumming the low E | E is the third Csus2 leaves out, and it muddies the bass. | Start the strum on the fifth string. |
| Muting the open D | D is the note that makes the chord a sus2. | Arch the third finger and play the strings one at a time. |
| Leaving the high E open | x30010 adds E: with E and D together it is a Cadd9 sound, not Csus2. | Keep the fourth finger on fret 3 of the first string. |
| Squeezing too hard | The hand tires and the notes go sharp. | Fingers close to the fret wire, thumb relaxed behind the neck. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Csus2 on guitar?
What notes are in a Csus2 chord?
Is Csus2 major or minor?
Is Csus2 the same as Cadd9?
What is the difference between Csus2 and Gsus4?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris who teaches adults. Every shape on this page is written string by string and checked against standard tuning, and the diagrams are drawn from those same fret numbers. The rest of our free guitar tools, including the chord finder, work the same way.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.