How do you play the A maj7(b5)/D chord?

To play the A maj7(b5)/D chord on piano, play the A maj7(b5) chord (A, C#, D# and G#) 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 maj7(b5)/D chord means a A maj7(b5) chord with D in the bass.

A maj7(b5)/D

Q: What notes are in the A maj7(b5)/D chord?

The A maj7(b5)/D chord uses the 4 notes of the A maj7(b5) chord — A (Perfect unison), C# (Major third), D# (Diminished fifth) and G# (Major seventh) — with D played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The A maj7(b5) chord consists of the A (Perfect unison), C# (Major third), D# (Diminished fifth) and G# (Major seventh) notes, with D as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a A maj7(b5)/D chord

How to play the A maj7(b5)/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 D# (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above A
Add G# (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above A
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the A maj7(b5)/D chord

Related slash chords

D# 11(b5)(sus4)/D