How do you play the A 9(b5)/E chord?

To play the A 9(b5)/E chord on piano, play the A 9(b5) chord (A, C#, D#, G 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 9(b5)/E chord means a A 9(b5) chord with E in the bass.

A 9(b5)/E

Q: What notes are in the A 9(b5)/E chord?

The A 9(b5)/E chord uses the 5 notes of the A 9(b5) chord — A (Perfect unison), C# (Major third), D# (Diminished fifth), G (Minor seventh) and B (Major ninth) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The A 9(b5) chord consists of the A (Perfect unison), C# (Major third), D# (Diminished fifth), G (Minor seventh) and B (Major ninth) notes, with E as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a A 9(b5)/E chord

How to play the A 9(b5)/E chord

Play E as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find A (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add C# (Major third) — 4 semitones above A
Add D# (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above A
Add G (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above A
Add B (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above A
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the A 9(b5)/E chord

Related chords with different root

A 9(#11)

Related slash chords

B 9(#5)/E