Csus2 chord on piano
Csus2 is C, D and G. C sits just left of the pair of black keys. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · C–D–G · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C · D · G
- Formula
- 1 · 2 · 5
How to play Csus2 on piano
Start on C, count 2 half steps up to D then 5 half steps up to G. Press the 3 keys together and that's Csus2.
- Right hand: 1 on C, 3 on D and 5 on G.
- Left hand: 5 on C, 3 on D and 1 on G.
- On the keyboard it's white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Dsus2, Fsus2, Gsus2 and Asus2, so your hand shape carries over.
Csus2 inversions
- root position: C–D–G. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: D–G–C, with D at the bottom. Right hand 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: G–C–D, with G at the bottom. Fingers 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
Moving between Csus2 and its neighbours
Songs rarely hold Csus2 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- C (resolves up to the third): Csus2 to C: play C in root position (C–E–G) and C and G stay under the same fingers, while D moves up to E. C on piano
- F (IV in C major): Csus2 to F: play F in 2nd inversion (C–F–A) and C stays under the same finger, while D moves up to F and G up to A. F on piano
- G (V in C major): Csus2 to G: play G in 1st inversion (B–D–G) and D and G stay under the same fingers, while C moves down to B. G on piano
Csus2 replaces the third with the second, so it is neither major nor minor. The open second in Csus2 usually rises to the third, so play Csus2 then C and listen for it to settle. Play it solid and then broken to hear the difference.
Practice Csus2 in two minutes
Play Csus2 broken, one key at a time: C, D, G, D, C. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Next, walk up through C–D–G → D–G–C → G–C–D without lifting your eyes to your hand.
The keys of Csus2
Csus2 is a suspended second chord, 1–2–5 from C. Root position, from the bottom: how Csus2 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| D | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major second |
| G | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Where Csus2 shows up
Csus2 on guitar and ukulele
Csus2 on guitar and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Next to try on piano
Other suspended second chords
Csus2 on piano: questions
What notes are in Csus2 on piano?
C, D and G: C (white key), D (white key) and G (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Csus2 on piano?
Press C, D and G together, all white keys. Right hand: 1 on C, 3 on D and 5 on G.
What are the inversions of Csus2?
1st inversion (D–G–C) and 2nd inversion (G–C–D), after root position (C–D–G). Each keeps all the notes of the chord.
What does Csus2 look like on the keyboard?
white, white and white keys, the same pattern as Dsus2, Fsus2, Gsus2 and Asus2, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Every shape above plays only C, D and G, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.