Root position Csus2
C – D – G
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-4-1
Csus2 Chord on Piano
Csus2 C D G Formula 1 2 5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the Csus2 chord?
The Csus2 chord has 3 notes: C, D, G. No third: the second (2 half steps above C) replaces it, so the chord is neither major nor minor.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| D | Major 2nd | 2 |
| G | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play Csus2
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Csus2/D
D – G – C
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
The piano studio names these keys Gsus4/D: the same notes, read from another root.
2nd inversion Csus2/G
G – C – D
Right hand 1-4-5Left hand 5-3-1
The piano studio names these keys Gsus4: the same notes, read from another root.
Where it lives
Keys and scales with Csus2
Every key where Csus2 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
Csus2 is not a diatonic chord of any major or natural minor key.
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the Csus2 chord?
The Csus2 chord (Csus2) is made of C, D, G. Its formula is 1 2 5 - the root, then the intervals of a suspended 2nd chord.
How do you play Csus2 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C and play the other notes with fingers 1-2-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-4-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Csus2?
root position Csus2 (C D G); 1st inversion Csus2/D (D G C); 2nd inversion Csus2/G (G C D).
Play it for real
Hold Csus2 and build a progression on it
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