Banjo B♭sus2 chord (Open D)B♭ suspended 2nd on the 5-string banjo: 3 4 3 3, and 3 more shapes
Frets, string 4 to string 1: 3 4 3 3 (first position)
- String 4 (D): 3rd fret, index finger (barre), F
- String 3 (F♯): 4th fret, middle finger, B♭
- String 2 (A): 3rd fret, index finger (barre), C
- String 1 (D): 3rd fret, index finger (barre), F
- String 5, the short f♯: open, F♯, not in the chord
Sounds: F B♭ C F · B♭sus2 is B♭, C, F (1 · 2 · 5)
The 5th string: the short f♯ rubs against the F in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.
With a capo: on the 3rd fret it’s 0 1 0 0 (frets counted from the capo), an open Gsus2 shape. Spike the 5th string at the 8th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.
Open D tuning: f♯DF♯AD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.
The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Open D once in its Settings and it remembers.
More B♭sus2 shapes
- 8 6 8 8
6fr - 8 11 8 10
8fr - 10 11 13 10
10fr
Other B♭ chords in Open D
Other suspended 2nd chords
B♭sus2 in other tunings
All Open D banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app