A# Suspended 2nd (A#sus2)

Also written as Bb Suspended 2nd (Bb and A# are the same key).

1+2+5
B#E#A#
4 4
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Notes in A# Suspended 2nd

A# (root)B#E#

Inversions

Same notes as A# Suspended 2nd, with a different chord tone as the lowest note. Useful for smoother movement between chords instead of jumping around the keyboard.

Root position

A# in the bass

B#E#A#

1st inversion

B# in the bass

B#E#A#

2nd inversion

E# in the bass

E#B#A#

Press A#, B# and E# together on the keyboard and you're playing A# Suspended 2nd.

Suspended chords pull the third out entirely, so they land somewhere between major and minor rather than picking a side. Sus2 fills the gap with a major second sitting close to the root, which gives it an open, slightly hollow color. It's a favorite way to add movement to a strummed or arpeggiated part without changing the underlying harmony.

Difficulty: Beginner. Category: Triads. Click any key on the diagram above to hear that single note.