Bsus2 Piano Chord

Bsus2 is the B suspended second chord. It has three notes: B, C sharp and F sharp. The upper two are black keys and the root is white.

1B2C♯5F♯C3C4

B at the bottom, then C♯ and F♯. Right hand 1-2-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black keys are C♯ and F♯.

How to play Bsus2 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the B below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): B
  3. Index finger (2): C♯
  4. Little finger (5): F♯
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just B on its own as a bass note.

The thumb stays forward on a white key while the other two fingers sit deep on black ones. Let the hand angle rather than forcing all three fingers to the same depth.

Inversions of Bsus2

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Bsus2; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionC♯ F♯ B
Bsus2 piano chord diagram, first inversion, C♯ F♯ B
Lighter than root position and less final. A second in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionF♯ B C♯
Bsus2 piano chord diagram, second inversion, F♯ B C♯
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.

If it sounds wrong

You have played D sharp
That belongs to B major. Bsus2 replaces it with C sharp, the black key immediately above B.
The thumb is dragged in
It is the only finger on a white key. Keep it forward on B while the others sit further into the keyboard.
The chord sounds thin
Check all three notes are sounding. With the hand at two depths it is easy for the thumb to rest without pressing.

What makes it a Bsus2

B · C♯ · F♯ 1 2 5

Bsus2 is B, C sharp and F sharp: the root, the second and the fifth.

It sits in the keys of B, F sharp and E. In songs in E, which is most guitar based rock, it appears as a suspended version of the V chord.

Bsus2 vs B

B major has D sharp; Bsus2 has C sharp. Both are black keys, so what changes is the sound rather than the hand depth.

B major is bright and final. Bsus2 is open and can hang for as long as the music wants.

Questions about Bsus2

What does sus mean in Bsus2?

Suspended. The third of the chord is taken out and replaced by another note, so the chord is neither major nor minor. In Bsus2 the third is replaced by C sharp, the second.

Which notes are in a Bsus2 chord on piano?

B, C sharp and F sharp.

What is the difference between Bsus2 and Bsus4?

Which note replaces the third. Bsus2 uses the second, one step above the root; Bsus4 uses the fourth, one step below the fifth. Sus2 sounds open and airy, sus4 sounds tense and wants to resolve.

Is Bsus2 major or minor?

Neither. The third is the note that decides, and a suspended chord does not have one. That is why it can sit in front of either B major or B minor.

Chords to learn next

Other B chords