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A sus2 chord (Asus2)

A sus2 is a 3-note sus2 chord: A – B – E. It sounds open and ambiguous: neither major nor minor. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

  • NotesA – B – E
  • Formula1 – 2 – 5
  • SymbolAsus2 · A2
  • TypeSus2 chord

A sus2 on guitar

  • ×12AEABE
    Open position

How to place your fingers (open position)

  1. Finger 1 (index) on fret 2 of string 4 (D).
  2. Finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of the 3rd string (G).
  3. Strings 5, 2 and 1 are played open.
  4. Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (A).

A sus2 on piano

ABE

In root position, play A – B – E from bottom to top with fingers 1, 3 and 5 of your right hand (thumb, middle and pinky). With your left hand you usually play just the root (A) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

  • First inversion: B – E – A
  • Second inversion: E – A – B

A sus2 on ukulele

  • BEEA
    Open position
  • 4BEAE
    From fret 4

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of A sus2

  • A1 · root
  • B2 · major second
  • E5 · perfect fifth

It's used to open up the sound of a major or minor chord, in pop and rock strumming and in intros with open strings.

Progressions with Asus2

Suspend and resolve: Isus2 – I

Asus2 usually resolves to A: you change just one note and the chord “settles”.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A suspended 2 chord?

A suspended 2 (Asus2) has 3 notes: A (root), B (major second), E (perfect fifth).

How do you play A suspended 2 on guitar?

The easiest shape is in open position: x 0 2 2 0 0 (from string 6 to string 1). Place finger 1 (index) at fret 2 on string 4 (D). Place finger 2 (middle) at fret 2 on string 3 (G). Strings 5, 2 and 1 are played open. Don't play string 6: strum from string 5.

How do you write A suspended 2 as a chord symbol?

It is written Asus2; you may also see A2. Letter notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A and B for the notes.

Want to play whole songs?

A teacher shows you how to change chords smoothly, strum and play along to your favorite songs, in online lessons or at home in Bogotá.

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