B suspended second chord (Bsus2)
The B suspended second chord (Bsus2) is a suspended chord: B, C♯ and F♯ (root, major second and perfect fifth). It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor.
It is the Isus2 in B major and the IVsus2 in F♯ major, and it usually resolves to the major or minor chord on the same root.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play B suspended second on guitar
There is 1 guitar voicing.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-4-4-2-2, barre at fret 2, with B in the bass (fingers x-1-3-4-1-1).
Notes of the B suspended second chord on the fretboard
B suspended second has 3 notes: B, C♯ and F♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · C♯ (9)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · C♯ (4) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): F♯ (4) · B (9) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): B (4) · C♯ (6) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · C♯ (2) · F♯ (7) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · C♯ (9)
Formula and intervals of B suspended second
Its formula is 1-2-5; in semitones from the root, 0-2-7.
- B: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- C♯: Major second (M2), 2 semitones above B
- F♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above B
B suspended second on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 4-1-2-2; it sounds B, C♯, F♯ and B.
B suspended second on piano
- Keys: B4, C♯5 and F♯5.
Inversions of B suspended second
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, C♯ and F♯, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (Bsus2/C♯): C♯, F♯ and B, with C♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Bsus2/F♯): F♯, B and C♯, with F♯ in the bass.
Keys that use B suspended second
B suspended second appears in 10 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B major (5 sharps) | Isus2 | Tonic |
| A major (3 sharps) | IIsus2 | Supertonic |
| F♯ major (6 sharps) | IVsus2 | Subdominant |
| E major (4 sharps) | Vsus2 | Dominant |
| D major (2 sharps) | VIsus2 | Submediant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | Isus2 | Tonic |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | IIIsus2 | Mediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | IVsus2 | Subdominant |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | VIsus2 | Submediant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | VIIsus2 | Subtonic |
Progressions with B suspended second
- Sus2 resolution in B major (Isus2–I): Bsus2 – B
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B suspended second chord?
B, C♯ and F♯: root, major second and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-2-5.
Which keys use B suspended second?
Mainly as the Isus2 in B major and the IVsus2 in F♯ major. In total it appears in 10 major and minor keys.
What does “sus” mean in B suspended second?
That the chord is suspended: the third is replaced by another note, leaving B, C♯ and F♯ (root, major second and perfect fifth). Without a third, it can move to either the major or the minor triad on the same root.