G suspended 2nd · Guitar
Gsus2 Chord on Guitar
The Gsus2 chord (G suspended 2nd) is built from the notes G, A and D. 2 different guitar fingerings for it are shown below.
Chord diagrams
Fingering
- string 6 (E): muted
- string 5 (A): muted
- string 4 (D): fret 5 — index finger
- string 3 (G): fret 7 — ring finger
- string 2 (B): fret 8 — little finger
- string 1 (E): fret 5 — index finger
Fingering
- string 6 (E): muted
- string 5 (A): fret 10 — index finger
- string 4 (D): fret 12 — ring finger
- string 3 (G): fret 12 — little finger
- string 2 (B): fret 10 — index finger
- string 1 (E): fret 10 — index finger
Notes in this chord
- G
- A
- D
Degrees: 1 – 2 – 5
How to play
Every guitar shape for Gsus2 needs a barre, and the lowest one starts at fret 5. Keep the index finger straight and as close to the fret wire as possible, and let the wrist rather than the thumb supply the pressure.
Theory behind the chord
Suspended second chords swap the third for a second, giving an open, airy sound. Guitarists often let one shape ring across several bars because it fits over both major and minor harmony. On Gsus2 this structure sits on the root G, so the degrees 1 – 2 – 5 map onto G, A and D.
Frequently asked questions
- Which notes are in the Gsus2 chord?
- Gsus2 contains the notes G, A and D. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 2 – 5.
- How many ways can you play Gsus2?
- Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for Gsus2, 2 of which are barre shapes. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.
- Is the Gsus2 chord hard to play?
- Gsus2 requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.
Practise Gsus2 on your phone
Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.
