In this section: Chords

Dsus2 (Dsus2)

D major with the finger on the high E lifted off: the open string replaces the third. An open, bright sound, almost always alternated with D.

It’s played in open position, near the nut, and as a barre chord higher up the neck. It’s mostly used to add movement to D major, which it resolves to.

Notes:: D, E, A.
Formula:: 1, 2, 5.
Difficulty:: Beginner.
Strings played:: 4 (from the D string).

Chord diagram

e|--0--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

Other positions

e|--5--|
B|--5--|
G|--7--|
D|--7--|
A|--5--|
E|--x--|

Common mistakes

Open high E muted? Your ring finger, on the B string, is touching it. Stand it up more.

Sounds muddy? Don’t strum the low E or A string: start on the D string.

Variations

D and Dsus4: the two neighbors Dsus2 alternates with.

e|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

e|--3--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

Heard in

D, Dsus2, D, Dsus4: the move that brings a folk strumming pattern to life without changing chords.

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around Dsus2.

e|--2--|
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|--0--|
A|--x--|
E|--x--|

D majorresolution

e|--3--|
B|--0--|
G|--0--|
D|--0--|
A|--2--|
E|--3--|

G majorIV

e|--0--|
B|--2--|
G|--2--|
D|--2--|
A|--0--|
E|--x--|

A majorV