Piano chords · Sus2 chord
Asus2 piano chord (A suspended second)
Asus2 is a suspended second chord with 3 notes. It sounds open and airy, neither major nor minor. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
A – B – E · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Asus2
Asus2 is built from 3 notes (1 – 2 – 5):
- A, the root
- B, the second
- E, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Asus2 an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on A, 2 on B, 5 on E.
- Left hand: 5 on A, 4 on B, 1 on E.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | A – B – E |
| 1st inversion | B – E – A |
| 2nd inversion | E – A – B |
Where Asus2 belongs
A sus chord is neither major nor minor: the second takes the place of the third. It usually resolves, with the second moving to the third, to A or Am.
Asus2 is A with its third (C♯) replaced by the second, B.
Hear it in a progression
Asus2 – A – Asus2 – A: Asus2 resolving to A and back: the classic suspension.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Asus2 chord?
Asus2 (A suspended second) is made of A, B and E: the root, second and fifth.
How do you play Asus2 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on A, 2 on B, 5 on E, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on A, 4 on B, 1 on E.
How is Asus2 different from the plain chord?
Asus2 is A with its third (C♯) replaced by the second, B.