Piano chords · Sus2 chord
Esus2 piano chord (E suspended second)
Esus2 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.
E – F♯ – B · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Esus2
Esus2 is built from 3 notes (1 – 2 – 5):
- E, the root
- F♯, the second
- B, the fifth
F♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on E, 2 on F♯, 5 on B.
- Left hand: 5 on E, 4 on F♯, 1 on B.
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 | E – F♯ – B |
| 1st inversion | F♯ – B – E |
| 2nd inversion | B – E – F♯ |
Where Esus2 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 E or Em.
Esus2 is E with its third (G♯) replaced by the second, F♯.
Hear it in a progression
Esus2 – E – Esus2 – E: Esus2 resolving to E 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 Esus2 chord?
Esus2 (E suspended second) is made of E, F♯ and B: the root, second and fifth.
How do you play Esus2 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on E, 2 on F♯, 5 on B, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on E, 4 on F♯, 1 on B.
How is Esus2 different from the plain chord?
Esus2 is E with its third (G♯) replaced by the second, F♯.