Csus2 chord on guitar

Csus2 is C, D and G. The usual shape is x-3-5-5-3-3, a barre at the 3rd fret. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-3-5-5-3-3 · barre · medium

Notes: C · D · G
Formula: 1 · 2 · 5
First shape: x-3-5-5-3-3

How to play Csus2 on guitar

Shape 1, x-3-5-5-3-3, reading from the low E string on the left, starts at the 3rd fret:

Barre the 3rd fret with your index finger, covering the 5 strings from the A string to the high E string.
Put your middle finger on the D string at the 5th fret, which is G.
Put your ring finger on the G string at the 5th fret, which is C.
Skip the low E string and begin the strum from the A string.

If one string buzzes under the barre, it is usually sitting in a crease of your finger. Slide the barre up or down a few millimeters until it rings.

Other ways to play Csus2

x-3-0-0-1-x: open shape, easy. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.
x-x-10-7-8-8: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.
x-x-10-12-13-10: movable shape at the 10th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Csus2 the capo way

A capo turns an open chord into Csus2: capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Asus2 shape (x-0-2-2-0-0). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Csus2 chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Csus2, using the first shape of each chord.

C (resolves up to the third): Csus2 (x-3-5-5-3-3) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): move the index finger to the B string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share C and G, which is why the change sounds smooth. C on guitar
F (IV in C major): Csus2 (x-3-5-5-3-3) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. C carries over from one chord to the other. F on guitar
G (V in C major): Csus2 (x-3-5-5-3-3) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the low E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share D and G, which is why the change sounds smooth. G on guitar

Csus2 replaces the third with the second, so it is neither major nor minor. The open second in Csus2 usually rises to the third, so play Csus2 then C and listen for it to settle. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice Csus2 in two minutes

Arpeggiate x-3-5-5-3-3 from the lowest string: C, G, C, D, G. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Finish by moving between x-3-5-5-3-3 and x-3-0-0-1-x to learn two positions of the same chord.

Csus2 in context

Csus2 on piano and ukulele

Csus2 on piano and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Related C chords on guitar

Other suspended second chords

Csus2 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Csus2 on guitar?

C, D and G. In the x-3-5-5-3-3 shape the strings play C (A string), G (D string), C (G string), D (B string) and G (high E string), so C and G are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Csus2 on guitar?

x-3-0-0-1-x. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is Csus2 a barre chord on guitar?

Usually, yes. x-3-5-5-3-3 has your index finger across the 3rd fret. The barre-free alternative is x-3-0-0-1-x.

Which string does Csus2 start on?

In the x-3-5-5-3-3 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 3rd fret, which is C, the root. Skip the low E string.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Csus2. Updated September 2026.