C sharp suspended second chord (C#sus2) on piano
The C sharp suspended second chord (C#sus2) on piano has 3 notes: C sharp, D sharp, and G sharp (C♯, D♯, G♯). On the keyboard below, the root (C sharp) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.
- Notes
- C♯D♯G♯
- Formula
- 125
How to play C#sus2 on piano
Root position · From low to high: C♯ D♯ G♯
The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.
C#sus2 chord inversions
Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.
-
1st inversion (C#sus2/D#)
C#sus2/D#: D sharp (2) in the bass
From low to high: D♯ G♯ C♯
-
2nd inversion (C#sus2/G#)
C#sus2/G#: G sharp (5) in the bass
From low to high: G♯ C♯ D♯
Notes and intervals of C#sus2
C#sus2 (C sharp suspended second) is built from 3 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- C♯ · 1 · root
- D♯ · 2 · major second
- G♯ · 5 · perfect fifth
About the suspended second chord
Swaps the third for the second: neither major nor minor, an open and airy sound. Widely used in pop and modern rock to add movement to a static chord (D → Dsus2 → D) and in folk and worship fingerpicking.
Other C sharp chords
- C#
- C#m
- C#7
- C#7M
- C#m7
- C#m7(b5)
- C#°
- C#°7
- C#+
- C#sus2
- C#sus4
- C#7sus4
- C#5
- C#add9
- C#6
- C#m6
- C#9
- C#m(add9)
- C#m9
- C#7M(9)
- C#m(7M)
- C#7M(#5)
- C#7(b9)
- C#6(9)
- C#m6(9)
- C#11
- C#m11
- C#13
- C#m13
- C#7(#9)
- C#7(#11)
- C#7(b13)
- C#7(#5)
- C#7M(#11)
- C#9sus4
Suspended second: other roots
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the C#sus2 chord on piano?
C#sus2 (C sharp suspended second) has the notes C♯, D♯, G♯. The formula is 1 · 2 · 5: root, major second, perfect fifth.
How do you play C#sus2 on piano?
Find the C sharp key and add the other notes above it: C♯, D♯, G♯. Play them all together.
What are the inversions of C#sus2?
1st inversion (C#sus2/D#): D♯ G♯ C♯; 2nd inversion (C#sus2/G#): G♯ C♯ D♯.
What does C#sus2 mean?
C#sus2 is the chord symbol for C sharp suspended second. Swaps the third for the second: neither major nor minor, an open and airy sound. Widely used in pop and modern rock to add movement to a static chord (D → Dsus2 → D) and in folk and worship fingerpicking.
Is the C#sus2 chord the same on piano and keyboard?
Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.