E suspended second chord (Esus2)
The E suspended second chord (Esus2) is a suspended chord: E, F♯ and B (root, major second and perfect fifth). It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor.
It is the Isus2 in E major and the IVsus2 in B 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 E 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: 0-2-4-4-0-0, open position, with E in the bass (fingers 0-1-3-4-0-0).
- Voicing 2: x-7-9-9-7-7, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 7, with E in the bass.
Notes of the E suspended second chord on the fretboard
E suspended second has 3 notes: E, F♯ and B. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E (0) · F♯ (2) · B (7) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · E (7) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · F♯ (4) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): B (4) · E (9) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · E (5) · F♯ (7) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · F♯ (2) · B (7) · E (12)
Formula and intervals of E suspended second
Its formula is 1-2-5; in semitones from the root, 0-2-7.
- E: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- F♯: Major second (M2), 2 semitones above E
- B: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above E
E suspended second on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 4-4-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds B, E, F♯ and B.
E suspended second on piano
- Keys: E4, F♯4 and B4.
Inversions of E suspended second
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: E, F♯ and B, with E in the bass.
- First inversion (Esus2/F♯): F♯, B and E, with F♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Esus2/B): B, E and F♯, with B in the bass.
Keys that use E suspended second
E suspended second appears in 10 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| E major (4 sharps) | Isus2 | Tonic |
| D major (2 sharps) | IIsus2 | Supertonic |
| B major (5 sharps) | IVsus2 | Subdominant |
| A major (3 sharps) | Vsus2 | Dominant |
| G major (1 sharp) | VIsus2 | Submediant |
| E minor (1 sharp) | Isus2 | Tonic |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | IIIsus2 | Mediant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | IVsus2 | Subdominant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | VIsus2 | Submediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | VIIsus2 | Subtonic |
Progressions with E suspended second
- Sus2 resolution in E major (Isus2–I): Esus2 – E
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E suspended second chord?
E, F♯ and B: root, major second and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-2-5.
Which keys use E suspended second?
Mainly as the Isus2 in E major and the IVsus2 in B major. In total it appears in 10 major and minor keys.
What does “sus” mean in E suspended second?
That the chord is suspended: the third is replaced by another note, leaving E, F♯ and B (root, major second and perfect fifth). Without a third, it can move to either the major or the minor triad on the same root.