6 Free Video Guitar lessons - Click Here!

Converting G to Gsus2

G major is G(1) B(3) and D(5). Gsus2 chord is G(1) A(2) and D(5). If this was a simple example, then I could just lower all of my Bs to As and I would be done. But this one is going to take a little more effort.

First, the B on the 2nd string can not be lowered by a whole step. Sure you could tune 2nd string down a whole step, but we are trying to create a Gsus2 chord in standard tuning. So I can't lower the B down to an A on the 2nd string, but I can play an A note on the 3rd string 2nd fret. The 3rd string open is a G, and since there are already 2 other Gs within this chord form, I am not loosing anything.

But this still leaves a B note on the 2nd string that we have to deal with. There are 2 options.

1. Mute the string.
2. Play another note in the chord somewhere on that string.

In this case muting the 2 string tends to be a little tricky, so we are going to opt for finding another note that is in the chord, and within a reasonable reaching distance. So here are the options. A Gsus2 chord has the notes G, A and D. There is an G note on the 8th fret, 2nd string......an A note on the 10th fret, 2nd string....and a D note on the 3rd fret, 2nd string. So unless your hands are a freak of nature, the only option is the D on the 3rd fret.

Now in order to complete the transformation of a G chord form to Gsus2, I need to deal with the B note on the 5th string. The easiest answer is to lower the B down a hole step to an A. The only problem is that it sounds terrible. That low G on the 6th string and the open A note really clash against each other. Just as a general guideline, if the root of the chord form is on the 5th or 6th string, try to avoid putting the 2 of the chord on the next string higher. Just use your ear, if you like the sound, then by all means do it. It is theoretically correct.

So since lowering that B to an A does not seem like a good option, I have to look at my other options.

1. Mute the string.
2. Play another note in the chord somewhere on that string.

There is a G note on the 10th fret, 5th string, and a D note on the 5th fret, 5th string. Neither are going to be very feasible to play. So this time the best option is going to be to mute the 5th string.

Here is a suggested fingering for the chord.

Page 7, Converting G to Gm

Page 9, Converting G to Gsus4