B sus2 chordBsus2

Built from

• Broot
• C♯2nd
• F♯5th

There is no 3rd at all; the 2nd takes its place, so the chord never commits to major or minor.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In B major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Bsus2I
  2. F♯V
  3. G♯mvi
  4. EIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In B major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Bsus2I
  2. EIV
  3. F♯V
  4. Bsus2I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In B major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Bsus2I
  2. G♯mvi
  3. EIV
  4. F♯V

Where it goes next

Thinking in B major, where it is the I chord.

• E

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• F♯

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• G♯m

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• C♯m

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• F♯

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C♯ and F♯.

• F♯m

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have C♯ and F♯.

• C♯7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B and C♯.

• C♯m7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B and C♯.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• B major
• B major pentatonic

Keys it lives in

• B majoras I
• E majoras V
• F♯ majoras IV
• E♭ minoras VI
• G♯ minoras III
• C♯ minoras VII