B♭sus2 chord on guitar

B♭sus2 is B♭, C and F. The usual shape is x-1-3-3-1-1, a barre at the 1st fret. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-1-3-3-1-1 · barre · hard

Notes: B♭ · C · F
Formula: 1 · 2 · 5
First shape: x-1-3-3-1-1

How to play B♭sus2 on guitar

Shape 1, x-1-3-3-1-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Lay your index finger flat across the 5 strings from the A string to the high E string at the 1st fret.
Middle finger: D string, 3rd fret (F).
Ring finger: G string, 3rd fret (B♭).
Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

A barre at the 1st fret is the hardest place to press. Pull your elbow in slightly and roll the index finger onto its bony edge; it takes less force than pressing harder.

Other ways to play B♭sus2

x-1-3-3-1-x: movable shape, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.
x-13-15-15-13-13: barre shape at the 13th fret, medium. This is the open Asus2 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-x-8-5-6-6: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.

Capo shortcuts for B♭sus2

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Asus2 shape (x-0-2-2-0-0). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Moving between B♭sus2 and its neighbours

The chords B♭sus2 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

B♭ (resolves up to the third): B♭sus2 (x-1-3-3-1-1) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): your middle and ring fingers stay put, the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 3rd fret. The two chords share B♭ and F, which is why the change sounds smooth. B♭ on guitar
E♭ (IV in B♭ major): B♭sus2 (x-1-3-3-1-1) to E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3): the index finger goes to the D string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. B♭ carries over from one chord to the other. E♭ on guitar
F (V in B♭ major): B♭sus2 (x-1-3-3-1-1) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: C and F. F on guitar

B♭sus2 replaces the third with the second, so it is neither major nor minor. The open second in B♭sus2 usually rises to the third, so play B♭sus2 then B♭ and listen for it to settle. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

A short B♭sus2 drill

Arpeggiate x-1-3-3-1-1 from the lowest string: B♭, F, B♭, C, F. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Then switch to x-1-3-3-1-x and back four times without looking at your hand.

You may also see it as A♯sus2; nothing changes on the guitar.

B♭sus2 in context

B♭sus2 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try B♭sus2 on ukulele or B♭sus2 on piano, or compare them on the B♭sus2 chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other suspended second chords

B♭sus2 on guitar: questions

What notes are in B♭sus2 on guitar?

B♭, C and F. In the x-1-3-3-1-1 shape the strings play B♭ (A string), F (D string), B♭ (G string), C (B string) and F (high E string), so B♭ and F are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play B♭sus2 on guitar?

No open-string B♭sus2 exists in standard tuning; x-1-3-3-1-x is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is B♭sus2 a barre chord on guitar?

Yes. x-1-3-3-1-1 has your index finger across the 1st fret. x-1-3-3-1-x avoids the barre.

Which string does B♭sus2 start on?

In the x-1-3-3-1-1 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 1st fret, which is B♭, the root. Skip the low E string.

Every shape above plays only B♭, C and F, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.