Esus2 chord on guitar
The Esus2 chord, or E suspended 2nd, stacks 3 notes on E: E, F♯ and B. Musicians write its formula 1 2 5.
Notes and intervals of Esus2
Each note of Esus2 has a job. Counted from the root, you get root (E), major 2nd (F♯) and perfect 5th (B). Change one of these intervals and you get a different chord, which is why the formula 1 2 5 is worth memorising rather than the shape alone.
| Degree | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | root | E |
| 2 | major 2nd | F♯ |
| 5 | perfect 5th | B |
How to play Esus2 on guitar
Start with the first diagram: 2 2 2 4 5 2, read from the 6th string (low E) to the 1st string (high E), starting at fret 2. Your lowest note is F♯. The next positions give the same notes in a different order, which is useful when you want Esus2 to sit closer to the surrounding chords.
This is a barre or movable shape: keep your index finger straight and close to the fret, and press with the side of the finger rather than the flat pad.
Which keys use Esus2?
Esus2 is not built from the notes of a single major key, so it usually appears as a colour chord: a borrowed chord, a passing chord or a suspension that resolves to the next chord.
Scales to play over Esus2
These scales share every note of Esus2: E major scale, E natural minor scale, E harmonic minor scale, E melodic minor scale, E major pentatonic scale, E Dorian mode, E Lydian mode and E Mixolydian mode. E major scale is the safest choice; the others add more colour.
About sus2 chords
The third is replaced by a major second: 1 2 5. With no third the chord is neither major nor minor, so it sounds open, airy and slightly unresolved. That shimmering, modern colour is a staple of pop, worship and ambient guitar, where it rings beautifully with open strings. For example Dsus2: D E A.
Use it as a colour on I, IV or V in place of the plain triad, or as a decoration that returns to the triad on the same root (for example D Dsus2 D). Pop and worship songs build whole progressions on sus2 chords. Like every sus chord, it can resolve to major or minor, so it fits both modes.
The classic open shapes are Dsus2 (xx0230) and Asus2 (x02200). The movable one is the A-shape barre with the third replaced by the second on the 2nd string: the index stays on the barre (for example Bsus2 x24422). Another trick: play a power chord and add the second two frets above the root on the next string.
sus2 is not add9: sus2 has no third, add9 keeps the third and adds the 9th (1 3 5 9). The note names are the same, but the presence of the third changes everything. Also, 'sus' alone usually means sus4, not sus2. And do not expect sus2 to pull as strongly as sus4: it often just rings, without resolving.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Esus2 chord?
Esus2 (E suspended 2nd) contains E, F♯ and B. In intervals: root (E), major 2nd (F♯) and perfect 5th (B).
How do you play Esus2 on guitar?
The easiest shape is 2 2 2 4 5 2, from the low E string to the high E string, starting at fret 2. This page shows 3 positions with finger numbers.
What scale goes with Esus2?
E major scale fits Esus2 best. Other scales that contain all its notes: E natural minor scale, E harmonic minor scale, E melodic minor scale, E major pentatonic scale, E Dorian mode, E Lydian mode and E Mixolydian mode.
What key is Esus2 in?
Esus2 does not belong to a single major key. It is used as a colour chord that borrows notes from outside the key.
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