C♯sus2 chord on piano
C♯sus2 is C♯, D♯ and G♯. C♯ sits on the black key between C and D. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.
root position · C♯–D♯–G♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · D♯ · G♯
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
How to play C♯sus2 on piano
Start on C♯, count 2 half steps up to D♯ then 5 half steps up to G♯. That's the whole chord: 3 keys.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on D♯ and 5 on G♯.
- Left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on D♯ and 1 on G♯.
- On the keyboard it's black, black and black keys, the same pattern as F♯sus2 and A♭sus2, so your hand shape carries over.
C♯sus2 inversions
- root position: C♯–D♯–G♯. Right hand 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: D♯–G♯–C♯ (D♯ in the bass). RH 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: G♯–C♯–D♯, G♯ lowest. RH 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
Changing from C♯sus2 to the chords around it
Songs rarely hold C♯sus2 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- C♯ (resolves up to the third): 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♯ on piano
- F♯ (IV in D♭ major): 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♯ on piano
- A♭ (V in D♭ major): 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♭ on piano
C♯sus2 replaces the third with the second, so it is neither major nor minor. The open second in C♯sus2 usually rises to the third, so play C♯sus2 then C♯ and listen for it to settle. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Practice C♯sus2 in two minutes
Play C♯sus2 broken, one key at a time: C♯, D♯, G♯, D♯, C♯. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Finish with the inversions in order: C♯–D♯–G♯; D♯–G♯–C♯; G♯–C♯–D♯.
The keys of C♯sus2
C♯sus2 is a suspended second chord, 1–2–5 from C♯. Root position, from the bottom: how C♯sus2 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| D♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major second |
| G♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
You may also see it as D♭sus2; nothing changes on the piano.
Keys and progressions with C♯sus2
C♯sus2 on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try C♯sus2 on ukulele or C♯sus2 on guitar, or compare them on the C♯sus2 chord page.
Close to C♯sus2
Other suspended second chords
C♯sus2 on piano: questions
What notes are in C♯sus2 on piano?
C♯, D♯ and G♯: C♯ (black key), D♯ (black key) and G♯ (black key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play C♯sus2 on piano?
Press C♯, D♯ and G♯ together, all black keys. Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on D♯ and 5 on G♯.
What are the inversions of C♯sus2?
1st inversion (D♯–G♯–C♯) and 2nd inversion (G♯–C♯–D♯), after root position (C♯–D♯–G♯). Each keeps all the notes of the chord.
What does C♯sus2 look like on the keyboard?
black, black and black keys, the same pattern as F♯sus2 and A♭sus2, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes C♯, D♯ and G♯ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.