D-flat suspended second chord (Dbsus2)
The D♭ suspended second chord (D♭sus2) is a suspended chord: D♭, E♭ and A♭ (root, major second and perfect fifth). It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor.
It is the Isus2 in D♭ major and the IVsus2 in A♭ 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 D♭ suspended second on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-4-1-1-4-4, barre at fret 1, with D♭ in the bass (fingers x-3-1-1-4-4).
- Voicing 2: x-4-6-6-4-4, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 4, with D♭ in the bass.
Notes of the D♭ suspended second chord on the fretboard
D♭ suspended second has 3 notes: D♭, E♭ and A♭. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): A♭ (4) · D♭ (9) · E♭ (11)
- String 5 (A): D♭ (4) · E♭ (6) · A♭ (11)
- String 4 (D): E♭ (1) · A♭ (6) · D♭ (11)
- String 3 (G): A♭ (1) · D♭ (6) · E♭ (8)
- String 2 (B): D♭ (2) · E♭ (4) · A♭ (9)
- String 1 (E): A♭ (4) · D♭ (9) · E♭ (11)
Formula and intervals of D♭ suspended second
Its formula is 1-2-5; in semitones from the root, 0-2-7.
- D♭: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- E♭: Major second (M2), 2 semitones above D♭
- A♭: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above D♭
D♭ suspended second on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 1-3-4-4; it sounds A♭, E♭, A♭ and D♭.
D♭ suspended second on piano
- Keys: D♭4, E♭4 and A♭4.
Inversions of D♭ suspended second
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: D♭, E♭ and A♭, with D♭ in the bass.
- First inversion (D♭sus2/E♭): E♭, A♭ and D♭, with E♭ in the bass.
- Second inversion (D♭sus2/A♭): A♭, D♭ and E♭, with A♭ in the bass.
Keys that use D♭ suspended second
D♭ suspended second appears in 10 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ major (5 flats) | Isus2 | Tonic |
| B major (5 sharps) | IIsus2 (written C♯sus2) | Supertonic |
| A♭ major (4 flats) | IVsus2 | Subdominant |
| G♭ major (6 flats) | Vsus2 | Dominant |
| E major (4 sharps) | VIsus2 (written C♯sus2) | Submediant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | Isus2 (written C♯sus2) | Tonic |
| B♭ minor (5 flats) | IIIsus2 | Mediant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | IVsus2 (written C♯sus2) | Subdominant |
| F minor (4 flats) | VIsus2 | Submediant |
| E♭ minor (6 flats) | VIIsus2 | Subtonic |
Progressions with D♭ suspended second
- Sus2 resolution in D♭ major (Isus2–I): D♭sus2 – D♭
D♭ suspended second or C♯ suspended second?
D♭ suspended second (D♭sus2) and C♯ suspended second (C♯sus2) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written D♭ suspended second in flat keys and C♯ suspended second in sharp keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D♭ suspended second chord?
D♭, E♭ and A♭: root, major second and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-2-5.
Which keys use D♭ suspended second?
Mainly as the Isus2 in D♭ major and the IVsus2 in A♭ major. In total it appears in 10 major and minor keys.
Is C♯ suspended second the same chord as D♭ suspended second?
Yes: C♯ suspended second and D♭ suspended second sound the same and are played the same way. It is written D♭ suspended second in flat keys and C♯ suspended second in sharp keys.
What does “sus” mean in D♭ suspended second?
That the chord is suspended: the third is replaced by another note, leaving D♭, E♭ and A♭ (root, major second and perfect fifth). Without a third, it can move to either the major or the minor triad on the same root.