C#sus2 Chord
The C#sus2 chord contains C sharp, D sharp, G sharp played together. D sharp is the second; the chord has no third. Because the third is missing, these notes alone do not identify a major or minor triad.
- Notes: C sharp-D sharp-G sharp
- Formula: 1-2-5
- No third
Which keys make C#sus2?
Use C sharp as the root, D sharp as the second, and G sharp as the perfect fifth. That spells C sharp-D sharp-G sharp. The black keys here are C sharp, D sharp, G sharp. On a piano, play the three notes together and then one by one. Hearing each note separately helps you locate the suspended tone before changing it.
The word “sus” means suspended, but the sound does not have to resolve on a fixed schedule. The chord symbol specifies the notes. A melody or the next chord tells you what happens afterward.
How do its two inversions work?
Move the lowest note up an octave while keeping the same three note names:
- Root position: C sharp-D sharp-G sharp, with C sharp lowest.
- First inversion: D sharp-G sharp-C sharp, with D sharp lowest.
- Second inversion: G sharp-C sharp-D sharp, with G sharp lowest.
These are three positions of the same chord. Press the “broken” button after each position to hear the note order clearly. Chord Inversions explains what the changing bass does to a chord shape.
What happens when you add a third?
Keep C sharp and G sharp. Replace D sharp with E sharp to play the C sharp major triad. Replace it with E to play the C sharp minor triad. Only one note changes each time, yet the open suspended sound becomes a definite major or minor chord. The C sharp Major Chord gives the major version's positions.
How is this different from C sharpsus4?
C#sus2 uses D sharp. C sharpsus4 uses F sharp instead; both omit the third. Alternate the two shapes while keeping C sharp and G sharp down. The changed note is the entire difference, so listen for its distance above the root. Suspended Second Chord shows how the same pattern works from other roots.
Try a three-beat answer
Play C#sus2 twice, then change D sharp to E sharp on beat three. Try it again with E. The root and fifth stay put, giving your ear a steady reference while the middle note changes.