3 notes · 1 · 2 · 5

E Suspended Second Piano Chord (Esus2)

Esus2 is built from E, F# and B — the formula 1 · 2 · 5, or 2 and 7 semitones above E. The shape uses 2 white and 1 black key, and you can hear it, invert it and compare it below.

Root noteChord type

Chord

E Suspended second

Notes

E · F# · B

Formula

1 · 2 · 5

Right hand

1 · 2 · 5

Choose a chord, then play it. Finger numbers run from thumb (1) to little finger (5).

The finder above already holds Esus2. Press P or the Play chord button to hear E, F#, B sounded together, then change the root or the chord type to compare it with something else.

Chord tones

The notes in Esus2

A suspended second chord replaces the third with the second degree, so the chord is neither major nor minor. Taking the third away removes the emotional colour and leaves an open, ringing sound that sits well underneath a moving melody or a repeated riff.

Each tone of E suspended second with its interval, scale degree, distance in semitones from E and a suggested right-hand finger.
Note	Interval	Degree	Semitones	Right hand
Ewhite key	Root	1	0	1 · thumb
F#black key	Major second	2	2	2 · index finger
Bwhite key	Perfect fifth	5	7	5 · little finger

Step by step

How to play Esus2 on piano

Find E: it is the white key immediately right of a group of two black keys.
Build upwards from E using 2 and 7 semitones to reach F# and B.
With the right hand, place finger 1 on E, finger 2 on F# and finger 5 on B. Keep the wrist level and the knuckles rounded.
Move your hand a little further in towards the fallboard so the black key sits comfortably under your fingers.
Play the notes together, then one at a time from the bottom up, and listen to how Esus2 settles.
Try first inversion as well: F# – B – E. Inversions let you change chords without jumping around the keyboard.

Inversions

Esus2 in 3 positions

An inversion keeps the same 3 notes and simply moves the lowest one up an octave. Learning them means you can change chords with small hand movements instead of jumping to a new part of the keyboard.

Root position

E – F# – B

The root E is the lowest note. This is the shape most people learn first.

First inversion

F# – B – E

F# is the lowest note, so the major second sits in the bass and the notes below it move up an octave.

Second inversion

B – E – F#

B is the lowest note, so the perfect fifth sits in the bass and the notes below it move up an octave.

In context

Which keys contain Esus2

In D major the chord functions as iisus2. Altogether it is produced by the scales of 10 keys, so learning it once pays off in several places.

D majoriisus2
E majorIsus2
G majorvisus2
A majorVsus2
B majorIVsus2
C♯ minorIIIsus2
E minorisus2
F♯ minorVIIsus2
G♯ minorVIsus2
B minorivsus2

Chord tones are spelled by the degree they occupy, so the third of a minor chord is written as a flat rather than a sharp even though it is the same key on the piano. A double sharp such as F## means the key one whole tone above F.

Compare

Esus2 against E major

Esus2 and E major share E and B. Moving the major third G# down 2 semitones to the major second F# turns E major into Esus2.

Practise the pair together: hold the shared notes E, B still and move only the one finger. Hearing that single change is the quickest way to recognise the two chords by ear.

Open E major →

Good questions

Esus2 questions

What notes are in the Esus2 chord?

Esus2 contains E, F# and B. Counted from the root, that is the formula 1 · 2 · 5, or 2 and 7 semitones above E.

What is the right-hand fingering for Esus2?

A comfortable beginner fingering is 1 (thumb) on E, 2 (index finger) on F# and 5 (little finger) on B. Finger numbers run from the thumb (1) to the little finger (5), and they change once you start using inversions.

How is Esus2 different from E major?

Esus2 and E major share E and B. Moving the major third G# down 2 semitones to the major second F# turns E major into Esus2.

Which keys use the Esus2 chord?

It occurs naturally in D major (iisus2), E major (Isus2), G major (visus2), A major (Vsus2), B major (IVsus2) and C♯ minor (IIIsus2) among others. The roman numeral shows which degree of the key the chord is built on.

What are the inversions of Esus2?

root position is E – F# – B, first inversion is F# – B – E and second inversion is B – E – F#. Every inversion holds the same notes; only the lowest one changes.