How do you play the A add9/D chord?

To play the A add9/D chord on piano, play the A add9 chord (A, C#, E and B) with D as the lowest bass note. Place the D 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 add9/D chord means a A add9 chord with D in the bass.

A add9/D

Q: What notes are in the A add9/D chord?

The A add9/D chord uses the 4 notes of the A add9 chord — A (Perfect unison), C# (Major third), E (Perfect fifth) and B (Major ninth) — with D played as the bass note in the lowest register.

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

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a A add9/D chord

How to play the A add9/D chord

Play D 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 E (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above A
Add B (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above A
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the A add9/D chord

Related chords with different root

E 7(sus4)(add13)

Related slash chords

C# m7(#5)/D
C# m7(alt)/D
A add2/D