Dsus2 Guitar Chord

Dsus2 is the D suspended second chord. It has three notes: D, E and A. It is actually easier than D itself: take the ordinary D shape and lift the finger off the high E string, and the two fingers left over are the whole chord.

13××DADE

The ordinary D shape minus one finger: index on the G string, ring on the B string, with the D and high E strings open.

How to play Dsus2, step by step

  1. Index finger: 2nd fret, G string
  2. Ring finger: 3rd fret, B string
  3. Leave the D and high E strings open. Strum from the D string down, skipping the two lowest strings.

Press the high E string at the 2nd fret and Dsus2 becomes D; press it at the 1st fret and it becomes Dm. Hammering those notes on and off over a ringing Dsus2 is one of the most used moves in acoustic playing.

More ways to play Dsus2

There are 2 common Dsus2 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.

Barre at fret 5
Dsus2 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 5, played x57755

Thicker and more even than the open shape, with the root down on the A string.

Songs that use the Dsus2 chord

If a string will not sound

Open high E dies
The ring finger on the B string is leaning over the edge of its string. Curl it so the tip does the pressing and the high E stays clear.
You hear the low E and A strings
The chord starts on the open D string. Aim the pick at the top four strings; a narrow strum here matters more than in bigger chords.
The G string note buzzes
Slide the index right up behind the 2nd fret wire. Sitting halfway between frets is the usual cause.

What makes it a Dsus2

D · E · A 1 2 5

Dsus2 takes the D major triad and swaps its third, F♯, for E. In the standard shape that E is the open high E string, which is why the chord costs one finger less than D. With no third the chord is neither major nor minor; it hangs in the air until the F♯ comes back for D, or an F arrives for Dm.

Dsus2 turns up constantly in the keys of D, G and A, wherever a D chord holds a bar and the player wants some movement inside it. Because it commits to nothing, it works in front of D and Dm alike.

Dsus2 vs Dsus4

Both start from the D shape and change one note on the high E string: Dsus2 lifts the finger to leave the open E, Dsus4 plants the pinky at the 3rd fret for a G. Dsus4 is the tenser of the two and almost begs to fall back onto D; Dsus2 is lighter and can ring on its own. Players often chain them, D to Dsus4 to D to Dsus2, to keep a plain D bar from standing still.

Dsus2 chord questions

Is Dsus2 easier than D?

Yes. It uses two fingers where D uses three, and the finger it drops is the one beginners find most awkward to place.

Is Dsus2 major or minor?

Neither. The F♯ that would make it major is replaced by E, so the chord stays neutral until it resolves.

What is the difference between Dsus2 and Dsus4?

Dsus2 puts an E where the third was; Dsus4 puts a G there. On guitar that is the difference between lifting a finger from D and adding one.

Can I strum all six strings on Dsus2?

The shape uses the top four. The open A string is a chord tone, so grazing it does no real harm, but the low E is not in the chord and muddies it.

What does Dsus2 resolve to?

Usually D, one fret away on the high E string. Because it has no third it can just as correctly fall to Dm.

Chords to learn next

Other D chords