How do you play the A 5(add9)/E chord?

To play the A 5(add9)/E chord on piano, play the A 5(add9) chord (A, E and B) with E as the lowest bass note. Place the E note below the other chord tones. Slash chords specify a particular bass note different from the chord root.

What is a slash chord?

A slash chord (or compound chord) is written as Chord/Bass and specifies both a chord and a bass note. The note to the right of the slash is played as the lowest note. The A 5(add9)/E chord means a A 5(add9) chord with E in the bass.

A 5(add9)/E

Q: What notes are in the A 5(add9)/E chord?

The A 5(add9)/E chord uses the 3 notes of the A 5(add9) chord — A (Perfect unison), E (Perfect fifth) and B (Major ninth) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The A 5(add9) chord consists of the A (Perfect unison), E (Perfect fifth) and B (Major ninth) notes, with E as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a A 5(add9)/E chord

How to play the A 5(add9)/E chord

Play E as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find A (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add E (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above A
Add B (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above A
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the A 5(add9)/E chord

Inversions with same root

E sus4

Related chords with different root

A sus2
A 5(add9)
B 11(sus4)

Related slash chords

B 7(no3)/E