C♯sus2 chord
C♯sus2 is C♯, D♯ and G♯: 1–2–5 built on C♯. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
x-4-6-6-4-4 · barre · medium
- Notes
- C♯ · D♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
- First shape
- x-4-6-6-4-4
C♯sus2 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · C♯–D♯–G♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · D♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
C♯sus2 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-3-4-4 · movable · medium
- Notes
- C♯ · D♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
- First shape
- 1-3-4-4
C♯sus2 and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- C♯sus2 → C♯ (resolves up to the third)
Guitar: C♯sus2 (x-4-6-6-4-4) to C♯ (x-4-6-6-6-4): your middle and ring fingers stay put, the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 6th fret. The two chords share C♯ and G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: C♯sus2 to C♯: play C♯ in root position (C♯–E♯–G♯) and C♯ and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while D♯ moves up to E♯. C♯ - C♯sus2 → F♯ (IV in D♭ major)
Guitar: C♯sus2 (x-4-6-6-4-4) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. C♯ carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: C♯sus2 to F♯: play F♯ in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯) and C♯ stays under the same finger, while D♯ moves up to F♯ and G♯ up to A♯. F♯ - C♯sus2 → A♭ (V in D♭ major)
Guitar: C♯sus2 (x-4-6-6-4-4) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 5th fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 6th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. D♯ and G♯ carry over from one chord to the other.
Piano: C♯sus2 to A♭: play A♭ in 1st inversion (C–E♭–A♭) and E♭ and A♭ stay under the same fingers, while C♯ moves down to C. A♭
Guitar with a capo: capo 1, Csus2 shape; capo 4, Asus2 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, Csus2 shape; capo 6, Gsus2 shape.
How C♯sus2 is built
C♯sus2 replaces the third with the second, so it is neither major nor minor. It sounds open and airy, and it often resolves to C♯ or C♯m, or simply rings as a color of its own.
Count keys (black and white) from C♯: 2 half steps up to D♯ then 5 half steps up to G♯. You may also see it as D♭sus2: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | root | 0 | |
| D♯ | major second | 2 | |
| G♯ | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with C♯sus2
C♯sus2 isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
Chords close to C♯sus2
- C♯sus2 and C♯ differ by one note: D♯ in C♯sus2, E♯ in C♯. They share C♯ and G♯. C♯
- C♯sus2 and C♯sus4 differ by one note: D♯ in C♯sus2, F♯ in C♯sus4. They share C♯ and G♯. C♯sus4
Chords that share most of their notes with C♯sus2: A♭sus4, C♯add9, C♯9, C♯, C♯m, C♯sus4.
Every C♯ chord
C♯sus2 chord: questions
What notes are in the C♯sus2 chord?
C♯, D♯ and G♯. C♯sus2 is built 1–2–5 from C♯: D♯ is the major second and G♯ is the perfect fifth.
How do you play C♯sus2 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-4-6-6-4-4 (barre). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play C♯sus2 on piano?
Play C♯, D♯ and G♯ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. C♯ sits on the black key between C and D. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play C♯sus2 on ukulele?
1-3-4-4 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is C♯sus2 in?
C♯sus2 isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
What's the difference between C♯sus2 and C♯?
C♯sus2 and C♯ differ by one note: D♯ in C♯sus2, E♯ in C♯. They share C♯ and G♯.
All three instruments are drawn and played from C♯, D♯ and G♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.