Fsus2 is a way into F without the big barre, and a color in its own right. It keeps F and C and swaps the third for G, so the chord is neither major nor minor: it hangs in the air until you resolve it. Its easy shape takes two fingers and an open string, and it sits one move away from the small F you will use with it.
Fsus2 chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: F suspended second
- Symbol: Fsus2
- Notes: F, G, C
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fsus2, four strings | xx3011 | F G C F | No full barre: a small first finger barre on the top two strings, and the G string open. |
| Fsus2, thumb bass | 1x3011 | F F G C F | The same shape with the thumb on F at the first fret of the low E. The fifth string stays muted. |
| Fsus2, eighth fret | x 8 10 10 8 8 | F C F G C | The Asus2 shape barred at fret 8: first finger across the fifth to first strings, third and fourth fingers on the fourth and third strings at fret 10. |
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.
Fsus2 on the neck: every F, G, C
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of Fsus2: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still Fsus2.
How to play Fsus2, step by step
1. The small barre: xx3011
Lay the first finger flat across the second and first strings at fret 1: C and F. Put the third finger on the fourth string at fret 3: F, the root. The third string rings open: G, the note that gives the chord its name. Strum from the fourth string down.
2. Check the open G
Pick the third string on its own. If it is dull, the third finger is leaning on it. Arch that finger so it touches the fourth string with its tip only.
3. Add the bass: 1x3011
Hook the thumb over the neck onto the low E at fret 1. Now F is also the lowest note. The fifth string, an open A, must stay silent: A is the major third, and it would turn the chord back into something else.
F, Fm and Fsus2: one note apart
The three chords share F and C. Only the middle note changes, and it sits on the third string every time. Play them in a row and listen to that one string.
| Chord | Shape | Notes | Third string |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | xx3211 | F, A, C | A, the major third |
| Fm | xx3111 | F, Ab, C | Ab, the minor third |
| Fsus2 | xx3011 | F, G, C | G, the second |
Fsus2 is also a close cousin of Fadd9, which keeps the A and adds G on top. The same suspended idea on another root is on the Csus2 page.
Progressions with Fsus2
A sus2 chord rarely stays put: it opens a chord and lets it close again. Work these slowly, around 60 BPM, with the strumming hand steady while the fretting hand changes color.
| Progression | Shapes | What moves |
|---|---|---|
| F, Fsus2, F | xx3211, xx3011, xx3211 | Only the second finger lifts and comes back. |
| Same, with the bass | 1x3211, 1x3011, 1x3211 | The thumb holds F underneath the whole time. |
| Fsus2, F, Fsus4, F | xx3011, xx3211, xx3311,
xx3211 | The third string goes G, A, Bb, A: the whole suspended family on one string. |
| F, Fsus2, C, G | xx3211, xx3011, x32010,
320003 | A common loop in C, with a breath on the F. |
Common mistakes
- Strumming the A string. It adds A, the major third, under the chord. Aim the strum at the fourth string.
- Smothering the open G. Without it, you only hear F and C. Arch the third finger.
- Squeezing the small barre. Two strings need little pressure. Place the first finger close to the fret wire and relax the thumb.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Fsus2 on guitar?
What notes are in Fsus2?
Is Fsus2 major or minor?
Which strings should I not play on Fsus2?
Is Fsus2 easier than F?
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.