How do you play the Ab maj7(b5)/Bb chord?

To play the Ab maj7(b5)/Bb chord on piano, play the Ab maj7(b5) chord (Ab, C, Ebb and G) 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 maj7(b5)/Bb chord means a Ab maj7(b5) chord with Bb in the bass.

Ab maj7(b5)/Bb

Q: What notes are in the Ab maj7(b5)/Bb chord?

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

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

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Ab maj7(b5)/Bb chord

How to play the Ab maj7(b5)/Bb chord

Play Bb as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find Ab (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add C (Major third) — 4 semitones above Ab
Add Ebb (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above Ab
Add G (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above Ab
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the Ab maj7(b5)/Bb chord

Related slash chords

D 11(b5)(sus4)/A#