How do you play the Ab 7(sus)/E chord?

To play the Ab 7(sus)/E chord on piano, play the Ab 7(sus) chord (Ab, Eb and Gb) 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 Ab 7(sus)/E chord means a Ab 7(sus) chord with E in the bass.

Ab 7(sus)/E

Q: What notes are in the Ab 7(sus)/E chord?

The Ab 7(sus)/E chord uses the 3 notes of the Ab 7(sus) chord — Ab (Perfect unison), Eb (Perfect fifth) and Gb (Minor seventh) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Ab 7(sus) chord consists of the Ab (Perfect unison), Eb (Perfect fifth) and Gb (Minor seventh) notes, with E as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Ab 7(sus)/E chord

How to play the Ab 7(sus)/E chord

Play E 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 Gb (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above Ab
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the Ab 7(sus)/E chord

Inversions with same root

E maj9(no5)