A Suspended 2nd Bass Chord
All positions and voicings on the fretboard
A Suspended 2nd filtered by fret:
No playable voicings found for this chord on bass. This chord type requires more notes than the bass guitar's 4 strings can voice. Try a simpler chord type.
A Suspended 2nd — chord details
The A Suspended 2nd chord is made up of the following notes: A, B, E.
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 5P.
The diagrams above show every voicing and chord variation for A Suspended 2nd on bass guitar. Use the fret filter to narrow down voicings within a specific fret range — ideal for bass lines, chord fills, and double stops.
A sus2 substitutes the third for a major second, giving the notes A, B, E with intervals 1P, 2M, 5P. Like its sus4 sibling, this chord avoids declaring major or minor, but the second degree lends it a more modern, spacious, and airy character. Sus2 chords are favorites in alternative rock, post-rock, and worship music, where their openness creates an atmospheric, expansive harmonic palette.
How to Play A Suspended 2nd
A sus2 can be voiced in multiple ways depending on your instrument and musical context. Experiment with different inversions and positions to find voicings that connect smoothly to surrounding chords in your progression.
A Suspended 2nd in Progressions
A sus2 works as an alternative to both A major and A minor, adding ambiguity and openness. It is popular in verse sections of pop and rock songs, where its neutral quality allows the melody to define the emotional direction.
Common Substitutions
A major, Asus4, or Esus4 provide alternative voicings with a similar open character.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord has a comfortable open voicing — suitable for beginners and widely used in popular songs.