How do you play the Ab maj7(#5)/Bb chord?

To play the Ab maj7(#5)/Bb chord on piano, play the Ab maj7(#5) chord (Ab, C, E 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(#5)/Bb chord means a Ab maj7(#5) chord with Bb in the bass.

Ab maj7(#5)/Bb

Q: What notes are in the Ab maj7(#5)/Bb chord?

The Ab maj7(#5)/Bb chord uses the 4 notes of the Ab maj7(#5) chord — Ab (Perfect unison), C (Major third), E (Minor sixth) and G (Major seventh) — with Bb played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Ab maj7(#5) chord consists of the Ab (Perfect unison), C (Major third), E (Minor sixth) and G (Major seventh) notes, with Bb as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Ab maj7(#5)/Bb chord

How to play the Ab maj7(#5)/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 E (Minor sixth) — 8 semitones above Ab
Add G (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above Ab
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the Ab maj7(#5)/Bb chord

Related chords with different root

C 7(b13)