Dsus2 Ukulele Chord

Dsus2 is the D suspended second chord on ukulele. It has three notes: D, E and A. It is the plain D shape with one finger lifted: two fingers at the 2nd fret, and the E and A strings ringing open where D would fret one of them.

Index and middle side by side at the 2nd fret of the G and C strings, E and A open: the plain D shape with one finger lifted.

How to play Dsus2 on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: 2nd fret, G string
Middle finger: 2nd fret, C string
Leave the E and A strings open. Strum all four strings.

Play D, lift the finger on the E string, and you have Dsus2; put it back and the chord resolves. That lift and return is the classic sus move, and on this chord it costs exactly one finger.

More ways to play Dsus2

There are 3 common Dsus2 shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Dsus2 ukulele chord diagram, frets 4 to 7, played 7400 — Frets 4 to 7

Dsus2 ukulele chord diagram, frets 7 to 9, played 7900 — Frets 7 to 9

If it will not ring

The open E string is muted: The middle finger on the C string is leaning forward into it. Curl the finger upright; the lifted string is the whole point of the shape.
The 2nd fret pair buzzes: Index and middle sit side by side at the 2nd fret. Keep both just behind the fret wire and press with the tips.
It sounds like plain D: If the F♯ is still sounding, the E string is still fretted. Check the finger you meant to lift actually left the string.

What makes it a Dsus2

D · E · A 1 2 5

Dsus2 replaces the third of the D chord, F♯, with E. With no third the chord is neither major nor minor: the E hangs, and usually steps back up to F♯ as the chord resolves to D.

The same three notes, D, E and A, read from A spell Asus4; every sus2 chord has a sus4 twin a fifth up. D chords live in the keys of D, G and A, campfire territory on any instrument, which is why this one-finger-off shape gets so much use.

Dsus2 vs Dsus4

Dsus2 hangs E a whole step below the missing F♯; Dsus4 hangs G a half step above it. Both are one finger away from the plain D shape: the sus2 lifts a finger, the sus4 adds one.

The sus4 leans hard toward D and resolves fast; the sus2 is open and patient. Strummed together around the plain chord, lift then add, they make the D figure countless songs are built on.

Dsus2 chord questions

Is Dsus2 easier than D?

Yes. D uses three fingers crowded at the 2nd fret; Dsus2 lifts one of them away and lets two strings ring open.

Is Dsus2 major or minor?

Neither. The F♯ that would decide it is replaced by E, so the chord hangs until a third returns.

Is Dsus2 the same as Asus4?

They contain the same three notes, D, E and A. If the song treats D as home the chord is Dsus2; if A is home it is Asus4.

What is the difference between Dsus2 and Dsus4?

Dsus2 suspends E, a whole step over the root; Dsus4 suspends G, a fourth over it. The sus4 is the tense one, the sus2 the airy one.

What does Dsus2 resolve to?

D major when the E steps up to F♯, or D minor when it falls to F. Nothing in the chord blocks either.