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Gsus2 Guitar Chord

G Sus2 · G–A–D

Gsus2 is the G sus2 chord: G–A–D. Its sound is open and airy — replacing the 3rd with a 2nd removes the major/minor identity and leaves shimmer.

Suspended chords are about motion: Gsus2 usually resolves to plain G or Gm, and strumming between them is a songwriting trick you've heard in everything from The Who to Tom Petty. Because there's no 3rd, Gsus2 works over both major and minor contexts in the key of G.

The easiest way to play Gsus2 is the open-position shape (3 0 0 2 3 3, low E string to high E string), which uses open strings and stays in the first few frets. Below you'll find 9 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.

How to Play Gsus2: 9 Voicings

Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.

Gsus2 — Open, Open position2134
Open
Open position
3 0 0 2 3 3
Gsus2 — Open position, Open position123
Open position
Open position
3 0 0 0 3 3
Gsus2 — Suspended spread, 3rd fret312413
Suspended spread
3rd fret
3 x 5 7 3 5
Gsus2 — Barre shape, 5th fret5111341
Barre shape
5th fret
5 5 5 7 8 5
Gsus2 — D-shape sus2, 5th fret51231
D-shape sus2
5th fret
x x 5 7 8 5
Gsus2 — Top triad, 5th fret5231
Top triad
5th fret
x x x 7 8 5
Gsus2 — Barre shape, 7th fret731124
Barre shape
7th fret
x 10 7 7 8 10
Gsus2 — Barre shape, 10th fret10113411
Barre shape
10th fret
10 10 12 12 10 10
Gsus2 — A-string sus2, 10th fret1012311
A-string sus2
10th fret
x 10 12 12 10 10

Gsus2 Chord Theory

IntervalR25
NoteGAD

Gsus2 is built from the G major scale.

Gsus2 Chord FAQ

What notes are in the Gsus2 chord?

Gsus2 contains 3 notes: G (R), A (2), D (5). The interval formula for a sus2 chord is R–2–5.

What is the easiest way to play Gsus2 on guitar?

Use the open-position shape: 3 0 0 2 3 3 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). It uses open strings, so it needs the least finger strength.

Is Gsus2 a major or minor chord?

Neither — Gsus2 has no 3rd, the note that decides major versus minor. That ambiguity is exactly why it's useful: it fits over both major and minor harmony.

What keys use the Gsus2 chord?

Gsus2 appears diatonically in G major (as I), D major (as IV), and C major (as V) — plus E minor, its relative minor key.

Related Chords

Hear yourself play Gsus2

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