What Is a Major Sus2 7th Chord?
A major sus2 7th chord combines a suspended 2nd triad with a major 7th interval. It has no third — so it's neither major nor minor — but the major 7th at the top adds a luminous, dreamy quality above the wide open sound of the sus2.
This chord is a favourite in contemporary jazz, neo-soul, and ambient music where open, spacious harmonies are desired. It sounds modern and unanchored — like floating in a beautiful, undefined space.
How to Build a Major Sus2 7th Chord
Formula
Root + Major 2nd + Perfect 5th + Major 7th
Semitones: 0 — 2 — 7 — 11
Example: C Major Sus2 7th
- C (root)
- D (2 semitones = major second)
- G (7 semitones = perfect fifth)
- B (11 semitones = major seventh)
vs. Cmaj7: Cmaj7 = C E G B. Cmaj7sus2 = C D G B. Replace the major third (E) with a major second (D) and the chord opens up dramatically.
All 12 Major Sus2 7th Chords
| Chord | Root | Major 2nd | Perfect 5th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmaj7sus2 | C | D | G | B |
| Gmaj7sus2 | G | A | D | F# |
| Dmaj7sus2 | D | E | A | C# |
| Amaj7sus2 | A | B | E | G# |
| Emaj7sus2 | E | F# | B | D# |
| Bmaj7sus2 | B | C# | F# | A# |
| F#maj7sus2 | F# | G# | C# | E# |
| Fmaj7sus2 | F | G | C | E |
| B♭maj7sus2 | B♭ | C | F | A |
| E♭maj7sus2 | E♭ | F | B♭ | D |
| A♭maj7sus2 | A♭ | B♭ | E♭ | G |
| D♭maj7sus2 | D♭ | E♭ | A♭ | C |
The Sound of a Major Sus2 7th Chord
Open, airy, wide, dreamy, luminous, modern.
This chord sounds spacious and contemporary. Without a third, it avoids any major/minor commitment. The major 2nd creates a wide open interval at the bottom, while the major 7th adds shimmer at the top. The result is like light filling a large room — beautiful, diffuse, and without edges.
How to Use Major Sus2 7th Chords
1. As a tonic substitute: Use Cmaj7sus2 where you'd use Cmaj7 for a more modern, open sound.
2. In ambient and neo-soul music: This chord excels in music that values space and texture over defined harmonic function.
3. For colour within a static harmony: Stay on one root and move between sus2 and regular major 7th voicings for subtle inner movement.
4. In guitar-based music: Open sus2 voicings on guitar (like Dsus2add7) are standard in contemporary folk and indie music.
Free: Chord Ear Training Cheat Sheet
Train your ear to hear the wide, open quality of sus2 7th chords.