How do you play the Ab 5(add9)/Gb chord?

To play the Ab 5(add9)/Gb chord on piano, play the Ab 5(add9) chord (Ab, Eb and Bb) with Gb as the lowest bass note. Place the Gb 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 Ab 5(add9)/Gb chord means a Ab 5(add9) chord with Gb in the bass.

Ab 5(add9)/Gb

Q: What notes are in the Ab 5(add9)/Gb chord?

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

The Ab 5(add9) chord consists of the Ab (Perfect unison), Eb (Perfect fifth) and Bb (Major ninth) notes, with Gb as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Ab 5(add9)/Gb chord

How to play the Ab 5(add9)/Gb chord

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

Related chords with different root

Eb m(add11)
Ab 7(sus2)
Ab 9(sus2)

Related slash chords

Eb sus4/Gb
Ab sus2/Gb
Bb 11(sus4)/F#