How do you play the B 9/E chord?

To play the B 9/E chord on piano, play the B 9 chord (B, D#, F#, A and C#) 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 B 9/E chord means a B 9 chord with E in the bass.

B 9/E

Q: What notes are in the B 9/E chord?

The B 9/E chord uses the 5 notes of the B 9 chord — B (Perfect unison), D# (Major third), F# (Perfect fifth), A (Minor seventh) and C# (Major ninth) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The B 9 chord consists of the B (Perfect unison), D# (Major third), F# (Perfect fifth), A (Minor seventh) and C# (Major ninth) notes, with E as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a B 9/E chord

How to play the B 9/E chord

Play E as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find B (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add D# (Major third) — 4 semitones above B
Add F# (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above B
Add A (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above B
Add C# (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above B
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the B 9/E chord

Related chords with different root

B 11