Bsus2 Guitar Chord

Bsus2 is the B suspended second chord. It has three notes: B, C♯ and F♯. The standard shape is the open Asus2 grip pushed up two frets, with a barre doing the job the nut used to do. If you already know Asus2, you already know this fingering.

The open Asus2 shape moved up: index barres five strings at the 2nd fret while ring and pinky press the 4th. Fully movable up and down the neck.

How to play Bsus2, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the A to high E strings at fret 2
Ring finger: 4th fret, D string
Pinky finger: 4th fret, G string
Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

Slide the whole grip down two frets and lift the barre: the open strings take over and you have Asus2. Slide it up instead and the same shape gives you a sus2 chord on every fret.

More ways to play Bsus2

There are 2 common Bsus2 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Bsus2 guitar chord diagram, easier, small barre, played x x 9 11 12 9 — Easier, small barre

If notes choke or buzz

The C♯ on the B string disappears: It sits under the middle of the barre, where most barres press weakest. Tuck the index closer to the 2nd fret wire and add a little weight from the arm, not the thumb.
Ring or pinky mutes its neighbour: Both sit on the 4th fret of adjacent strings. Curl them onto their tips so the barre notes on either side keep ringing.
Low E string rumbles: The chord starts on the A string. Lean the tip of the barre finger over far enough to rest on the low E, or aim the strum below it.

What makes it a Bsus2

B · C♯ · F♯ 1 2 5

Bsus2 replaces the third of B major, D♯, with C♯. With no third the chord commits to neither major nor minor, and that neutrality is useful for this root in particular: Bm turns up constantly in the keys of D and A, while B major rules the key of E as its V chord. Bsus2 can lean toward any of them.

The C♯ is the note doing the suspending. Hold the chord and you can feel it wanting to rise a whole step to D♯ for B major, or a half step to D for B minor.

Bsus2 vs Bsus4

Bsus2 hangs a C♯ where the third of B used to be; Bsus4 hangs an E. Both are played from the same 2nd fret barre position, one note apart. The sus4 sounds tighter and presses to resolve; the sus2 is airier and holds still. If the song sits on the chord for more than a beat or two, the sus2 usually wears better.

Bsus2 chord questions

Is there an open Bsus2 chord?

Not really. B chords in general lack open shapes in standard tuning. The closest thing here is the four string grip at the 9th fret, which at least skips the five string barre.

Is Bsus2 major or minor?

Neither. The D♯ that would decide it is replaced by C♯, so the chord stays undecided until it moves.

How do I play Bsus2 without barring five strings?

Use the compact shape at the 9th fret. Only the index lies flat there, and it only needs to sound the D and high E strings.

What is the difference between Bsus2 and Bsus4?

Bsus2 suspends C♯, a whole step above the root; Bsus4 suspends E, a fourth above. Same barre position, one finger apart, with the sus4 sounding the more impatient of the two.

What does Bsus2 resolve to?

B or Bm, one fret apart on the B string. Since the chord has no third, both resolutions are equally correct.