Gsus2 Chord on Ukulele
Gsus2 = G – A – D (Root, Major 2nd, Perfect 5th)
Gsus2 drops G major's third and replaces it with a note a whole step above the root — A, in this case — and the shape needed is close kin to the plain G major triad's own open voicing: fret the C string at the second fret for the fifth, fret the E string at the third fret for a doubled root, and leave both the G and A strings open, since the open A string's natural pitch is exactly the note the suspension calls for. That means Gsus2 actually needs one fewer fretted note than plain G major, despite sounding like a more exotic chord.
Dropping the third leaves Gsus2 neither clearly major nor minor, and on an instrument as closely tied to the key of G as the ukulele is, that ambiguity gets used constantly as a decorative hover on the I chord — strummed briefly before resolving into plain G major, adding a moment of open, unresolved color right at the harmonic center of a song. It also works as a V(sus2) chord leading into C major, giving that key's dominant a wide, hollow quality distinct from a tightly stacked G major triad before the eventual resolution. Because three of its four notes ring on open strings, Gsus2 has an especially bright, ringing character even by ukulele standards, making it a favorite in fingerpicked arrangements that want a chord to sustain and breathe rather than land firmly.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
With two strings open and only two fretted, this shape rewards clean fretting more than finger strength — place the middle finger on the C string's second fret and the ring finger on the E string's third fret, keeping both away from the open G and A strings on either side. Because Gsus2 is so close in shape to plain G major (which frets the same two strings but at different points, or in some voicings the same points with the A string fretted instead of open), practice resolving Gsus2 into G major by simply adding the third back in, to internalize how the suspension actually functions as a delayed arrival rather than a separate destination. A fingerpicked arpeggio pattern across all four strings is a good way to let the open tones ring fully, since a fast strum can blur the very openness that makes this chord distinctive.
Common Progressions
- I(sus2) – I, using Gsus2 to decorate the tonic before resolving in G major
- V(sus2) – V – I, decorating the dominant in the key of C major
- Gsus2 – G – Em – C, a folk-style loop opening on the suspended tonic
- I(sus2) – IV – V – I, with Gsus2 softening the opening chord
FAQ
- Which chord tone disappears in Gsus2?
- The third, B, drops out entirely, and A — a whole step above the root — takes its place, leaving the chord without the information that would otherwise mark it major or minor.
- Why does Gsus2 need fewer fretted notes than plain G major?
- Because the open A string's natural pitch already matches the suspended second, the shape needs only two fretted notes instead of the two fingers plain G major uses in a different arrangement.
- How does Gsus2 typically resolve?
- Most often into plain G major, by adding the third (B) back in — a common decorative move at the very start or end of a phrase built around the tonic chord.
- Is Gsus2 a good chord for fingerpicking?
- Yes — with two open strings ringing alongside the two fretted notes, an arpeggiated pattern lets the chord's open, hollow character come through more clearly than a fast strum would.
Gsus2 on other instruments: Gsus2 on Guitar, Gsus2 on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.