Gsus2

Gsus2 is G, A and D, a suspended second. The shape this page opens on is written 300033, lowest string first.

Note by note. G is the root, A is the ninth and D is the fifth.

Also written G2 or G suspended 2nd. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 10 common shapes for Gsus2 on the guitar, and 52 derived voicings in 2 families.

One note away. Change a single note of Gsus2 and you have G (with one note moved), Gm (with one note moved), Gsus4 (with one note moved), Gsus2sus4 (with one note added), Gadd9 (with one note added) or Gmadd9 (with one note added).

In which keys. Every note of Gsus2 belongs to C major (the V), D major (the IV), D minor (the iv), E minor (the ♭III), F major (the ii), G major (the I), G minor (the i), A minor (the ♭VII), Bb major (the vi) and B minor (the ♭VI).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: 300033, 3xx233, 355x35, xx5785, x-10-7-7-8-10, x-x-7-7-8-10, x-10-12-12-10-10, 15-12-12-14-15-x, x-12-12-12-15-15, 15-x-x-14-15-15.

Under the hand. 1 of the 10 shapes here sits in open position, and the first uses 3 open strings. 6 of the 10 need a barre. Together they cover the neck from the 2nd fret to the 15th.

Triad. Three notes across one string set. Gsus2 has xxx233, 3002xx, xx0233, 300xxx, xxx035, 3000xx, x0003x, xx0035.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Gsus2 has x0003x, 5500xx, xx0035, 5x003x.

What kind of chord this is. Gsus2 is a suspended chord — root and fifth, with a second or fourth where the third would be — or nothing at all. suspended and power chords on every root, and what they are for.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.