How do you play the A b5/E chord?

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

A b5/E

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

The A b5/E chord uses the 3 notes of the A b5 chord — A (Perfect unison), C# (Major third) and D# (Diminished fifth) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

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

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

How to play the A 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
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the A b5/E chord

Related slash chords

D# 7(b5)(sus)/E