Dsus2 Piano Chord

Dsus2 is the D suspended second chord. It has three notes: D, E and A. All three are white keys, which is worth noting because D major itself needs a black one.

1D2E5AC4C5

D at the bottom, then E and A. Right hand 1-2-5, left hand 5-3-1. Every key here is white.

How to play Dsus2 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the D above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): D
  3. Index finger (2): E
  4. Little finger (5): A
  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 D on its own as a bass note.

Dsus2 is easier than D major on piano: the F sharp is gone and replaced by E, a white key. If a chord change is giving trouble, the sus2 is a good stepping stone.

Inversions of Dsus2

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Dsus2; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionE A D
Dsus2 piano chord diagram, first inversion, E A D
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 inversionA D E
Dsus2 piano chord diagram, second inversion, A D E
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 a black key
There are none in this chord. D, E and A are all white. The F sharp belongs to D major, not to Dsus2.
The bottom two notes clash
D and E are adjacent. That slight rub is the sound of the chord; if it is too much, play it higher up.
The little finger is weak
A is at the top of the chord. Lean the hand slightly outward rather than pressing harder with the weakest finger.

What makes it a Dsus2

D · E · A 1 2 5

Dsus2 is D, E and A: the root, the second and the fifth. The F sharp that would make it major is gone, so the chord takes no side.

It is common in the keys of D, A and G, and it appears constantly in guitar led pop, where the shape is a single finger lift away from D major.

Dsus2 vs D

D major has F sharp, a black key; Dsus2 has E, a white one. The chord loses its brightness and gains an open, unfinished quality.

It also gets easier: Dsus2 uses no black keys at all, which makes it a useful substitute while a hand is still learning the major shape.

Questions about Dsus2

What does sus mean in Dsus2?

Suspended. The third of the chord is taken out and replaced by another note, so the chord is neither major nor minor. In Dsus2 the third is replaced by E, the second.

Which notes are in a Dsus2 chord on piano?

D, E and A.

What is the difference between Dsus2 and Dsus4?

Which note replaces the third. Dsus2 uses the second, one step above the root; Dsus4 uses the fourth, one step below the fifth. Sus2 sounds open and airy, sus4 sounds tense and wants to resolve.

Is Dsus2 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 D major or D minor.

Chords to learn next

Other D chords