Csus2sus4

Csus2sus4 is C, D, F and G, a suspended second and fourth. The shape this page opens on is written x33033, lowest string first.

Also written Csus2/4 or C suspended 2nd and 4th. The same chord either way; which spelling you meet depends on who wrote the chart.

There are 6 common shapes for Csus2sus4 on the guitar, and 27 derived voicings in 3 families.

In which keys. Every note of Csus2sus4 belongs to C major (the I), C minor (the i), D minor (the ♭VII), Eb major (the vi), F major (the V), G minor (the iv), A minor (the ♭III) and Bb major (the ii).

The common shapes, written lowest string first: x33033, x30011, x33533, 8857xx, 8-8-10-10-8-10, x-15-12-12-13-13.

Drop 2. A close-position chord with the second voice from the top lowered an octave. Sits on four adjacent strings. Csus2sus4 has 1300xx, xx0011, xx3533, 3535xx, x3303x, x5556x, x-x-10-10-8-10, 10-10-10-10-x-x.

Drop 3. The third voice from the top lowered an octave. The dropped voice becomes the bass, which is why a string is skipped. Csus2sus4 has 1x001x, x3x031, x5x563, 3x353x, 8x576x, x8x788, 10-x-10-10-8-x, x-10-x-10-13-10.

Open string. An open string left ringing against a fretted grip. Because it costs no finger, it sounds a note the closed shape has none left for -- a tension on top, or a pedal root underneath. Either a familiar grip with open strings added, or a shape so sparse the open strings carry the chord. These belong to their key rather than to a shape, so D, A, G and E have many and Eb a handful. Csus2sus4 has xx0063, 3x006x.

The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in where the chords and the theory come from.