Piano chords · Sus2 chord
Dsus2 piano chord (D suspended second)
Dsus2 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.
D – E – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Dsus2
Dsus2 is built from 3 notes (1 – 2 – 5):
- D, the root
- E, the second
- A, the fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Dsus2 an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on D, 2 on E, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D, 4 on E, 1 on A.
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 | D – E – A |
| 1st inversion | E – A – D |
| 2nd inversion | A – D – E |
Where Dsus2 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 D or Dm.
Dsus2 is D with its third (F♯) replaced by the second, E.
Hear it in a progression
Dsus2 – D – Dsus2 – D: Dsus2 resolving to D 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 Dsus2 chord?
Dsus2 (D suspended second) is made of D, E and A: the root, second and fifth.
How do you play Dsus2 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on D, 2 on E, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on D, 4 on E, 1 on A.
How is Dsus2 different from the plain chord?
Dsus2 is D with its third (F♯) replaced by the second, E.