B Suspended 2nd Chord (Bsus2) on Piano
The Bsus2 chord (B suspended 2nd) is built from 3 notes: B – C# – F#.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from B | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | root | 0 |
| C# | 2 | major 2nd | 2 |
| F# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | B – C# – F# | B in the bass |
| 1st inversion | C# – F# – B | C# in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | F# – B – C# | F# in the bass |
How the suspended 2nd chord is built
Every suspended 2nd chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 2 (2 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on B and applying that formula produces B, C#, F#. Learn the formula once and you can build a suspended 2nd chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Bsus2
Every note of Bsus2 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on B
Suspended 2nd chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Bsus2 chord?
A Bsus2 chord contains the notes B, C#, F#. Those are the 1, 2, 5 degrees measured from the root note B.
How do you play Bsus2 on piano?
Place your thumb on B, then add C# and F# above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.