A Suspended Second Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Suspended Second Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, B, E
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 5P
Formula: W-5
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: sus2
The A Suspended Second arpeggio contains 3 notes (A, B, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Suspended Second Arpeggio
Play the A Suspended Second arpeggio whenever a A Suspended Second chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The A Suspended Second arpeggio uses 3 notes (A, B, E) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play A Suspended Second Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Suspended Second arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. With only 3 notes (A, B, E), this arpeggio spans wide intervals across the strings — sweep picking is an efficient way to move through it cleanly. Keep your pick angle consistent and let each note ring individually.
The A Suspended Second arpeggio avoids the third, creating an open, unresolved sound. It works over Asus4, Asus2, A7sus4 voicings and is perfect for creating a modern, ambiguous harmonic feel that neither commits to major nor minor.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the A Suspended Second arpeggio ascending and descending at 60 BPM, one note per beat, using a metronome. Once even and confident, play it in eighth notes, then triplets, keeping each note articulate. Spend at least 5 minutes daily on this before moving to musical application.
Guitar Tips
Try playing the A Suspended Second arpeggio on guitar by superimposing it over the corresponding A major barre chord shape. This visual connection between chord and arpeggio helps you find arpeggio tones instantly during improvisation.
Related Resources
Explore A Suspended Second in Other Tunings
- A Suspended Second in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Suspended Second in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Suspended Second in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Suspended Second in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Suspended Second in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Suspended Second in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Suspended Second in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Suspended Second in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Suspended Second in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Suspended Second in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Suspended Second in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Suspended Second in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Suspended Second in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Suspended Second in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)