How do you play the Ab major/Db chord?

To play the Ab major/Db chord on piano, play the Ab major chord (Ab, C and Eb) with Db as the lowest bass note. Place the Db 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 major/Db chord means a Ab major chord with Db in the bass.

Ab major/Db

Q: What notes are in the Ab major/Db chord?

The Ab major/Db chord uses the 3 notes of the Ab major chord — Ab (Perfect unison), C (Major third) and Eb (Perfect fifth) — with Db played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Ab major chord consists of the Ab (Perfect unison), C (Major third) and Eb (Perfect fifth) notes, with Db as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Ab major/Db chord

How to play the Ab major/Db chord

Play Db 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 Eb (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above Ab
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the Ab major/Db chord

Inversions with same root

Db maj7(sus2)
Db maj9(sus2)

Related chords with different root

Ab add11

Related slash chords

C m(#5)/Db