C# Suspended 2nd Guitar Chord — Open D
Guitar chord voicings in Open D tuning (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
C# Suspended 2nd Voicings in Open D
C# Suspended 2nd in Open D Tuning — Guide
Notes: C#, D#, G#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 5P
The C# Suspended 2nd chord in Open D tuning (D-A-F#-D-A-D) requires different fingerings than standard tuning. We found 6 playable voicings, each filtered for comfortable fret span (max 4 frets) and realistic finger placement.
About Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D) produces a full D major chord when strummed open, creating a warm, resonant sound that has been a staple of slide guitar, folk, and acoustic music for over a century. The three D strings create a deep, droning foundation that makes even simple chord shapes sound lush and full.
Open D is closely related to Open E (same intervals, just a whole step lower) but puts less tension on the guitar neck, making it safer for acoustic instruments. It was a favorite of Joni Mitchell, who used it extensively for her unique chord voicings, and Bob Dylan, who popularized it in folk-rock. For slide players, Open D provides the same intuitive major-chord-at-any-fret approach as Open G but with a warmer, deeper character.
Genres & Artists Using Open D
Genres: Folk, Blues, Slide Guitar, Acoustic, Singer-Songwriter, Country
Notable artists: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Bruce Cockburn, Elmore James
Scales for Improvising Over C# Suspended 2nd in Open D
When playing C# Suspended 2nd in Open D tuning, these scales work well for improvisation and melody writing:
- C# Major scale
- C# Mixolydian scale — bluesy, perfect over dominant 7th chords