Esus2 Chord
The Esus2 chord contains E, F sharp, B played together. F 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: E-F sharp-B
- Formula: 1-2-5
- No third
Which keys make Esus2?
Use E as the root, F sharp as the second, and B as the perfect fifth. That spells E-F sharp-B. The black keys here are F 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: E-F sharp-B, with E lowest.
- First inversion: F sharp-B-E, with F sharp lowest.
- Second inversion: B-E-F sharp, with B 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 E and B. Replace F sharp with G sharp to play the E major triad. Replace it with G to play the E minor triad. Only one note changes each time, yet the open suspended sound becomes a definite major or minor chord. The E Major Chord gives the major version's positions.
How is this different from Esus4?
Esus2 uses F sharp. Esus4 uses A instead; both omit the third. Alternate the two shapes while keeping E and B 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 Esus2 twice, then change F sharp to G sharp on beat three. Try it again with G. The root and fifth stay put, giving your ear a steady reference while the middle note changes.