Esus2 Chord on Guitar
Esus2 = E – F# – B (Root, Major 2nd, Perfect 5th)
Esus2 replaces the third of the open E chord with a second, built here from the movable E-shape sus2 template rather than the more commonly seen simplified open-position Esus2 shape guitarists often learn as a beginner variant. This version keeps all six strings active and involves a real stretch on the D string.
The notes are E, F#, and B — root, second, fifth, with no third present at all. As a suspension of E major it carries an open, unresolved quality that naturally wants to move to the plain triad, making it a favorite ornamental chord in rock and folk intros where the suspension is struck first and resolved to E a beat or two later.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
This particular six-string voicing asks the fretting hand to reach the D string two frets higher than the neighboring A and D-area notes in the shape, a genuine stretch that's more demanding than it might look given how close to the nut the chord sits. Many guitarists instead learn a simpler open Esus2 that only touches four strings and skips this stretch entirely — worth knowing both, since the leaner version is easier while this fuller one rings with more low-string weight.
Common Progressions
- Esus2 – E (a classic suspension-to-resolution move)
- Esus2 – A – Esus2 – E (a rock intro pattern)
- E – Esus2 – Esus4 – E (a common ornamental sequence)
- Esus2 – B – A – E (I(sus2) – V – IV – I)
FAQ
- Why is Esus2 a wider stretch than it looks?
- The full six-string E-shape sus2 template asks the fretting hand to reach the D string a full two frets above its neighboring notes, a genuine stretch even in open position where most other shapes are comfortably close together.
- Is there an easier version of Esus2?
- Yes — many players learn a simplified four-string open Esus2 that omits the wide D-string stretch entirely, which is the version most beginners are taught first, even though the full six-string shape used here is a valid and fuller-sounding alternative.
- Why does Esus2 lack a third?
- By definition, a sus2 chord replaces the third with a second, which is exactly what removes the note that would otherwise identify the chord as major or minor, giving it that characteristic open, ambiguous color.
- How is Esus2 typically used in a progression?
- As a brief suspension immediately before resolving to plain E major, a classic ornamental technique in rock and folk guitar where the suspended chord is struck first for tension and the plain triad follows for release.
- Does Esus2 ever function as a chord in its own right rather than a suspension?
- In some ambient or open-tuning-influenced guitar writing, yes, sus2 chords are sustained on their own for their open color rather than resolved anywhere, though the traditional usage treats them as a passing suspension.
- How does Esus2 compare to Esus4?
- Esus4 replaces the third with a fourth instead of a second, giving a slightly different, generally more common flavor of suspension — the two are often alternated with each other and with the plain triad in the same phrase.
- Is Esus2 harder to play than plain open E major?
- Yes, specifically because of the stretch to the D string — plain E major's three fretted notes sit close together, while Esus2's four fretted notes spread the hand across a wider span.
Esus2 on other instruments: Esus2 on Piano, Esus2 on Ukulele. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.