How do you play the Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord?

To play the Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord on piano, play the Ab m7(alt) chord (Ab, Cb, E, Gb and Cb) with Bb as the lowest bass note. Place the Bb 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 m7(alt)/Bb chord means a Ab m7(alt) chord with Bb in the bass.

Ab m7(alt)/Bb

Q: What notes are in the Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord?

The Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord uses the 5 notes of the Ab m7(alt) chord — Ab (Perfect unison), Cb (Minor third), E (Minor sixth), Gb (Minor seventh) and Cb (Minor tenth) — with Bb played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Ab m7(alt) chord consists of the Ab (Perfect unison), Cb (Minor third), E (Minor sixth), Gb (Minor seventh) and Cb (Minor tenth) notes, with Bb as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord

How to play the Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord

Play Bb as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find Ab (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add Cb (Minor third) — 3 semitones above Ab
Add E (Minor sixth) — 8 semitones above Ab
Add Gb (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above Ab
Add Cb (Minor tenth) — 15 semitones above Ab
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the Ab m7(alt)/Bb chord

Related chords with different root

Ab m9(#5)

Related slash chords

E add2/Bb
E add9/Bb
Ab m7(#5)/Bb