How do you play the B add11/E chord?

To play the B add11/E chord on piano, play the B add11 chord (B, D#, F# and E) 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 add11/E chord means a B add11 chord with E in the bass.

B add11/E

Q: What notes are in the B add11/E chord?

The B add11/E chord uses the 4 notes of the B add11 chord — B (Perfect unison), D# (Major third), F# (Perfect fifth) and E (Perfect eleventh) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The B add11 chord consists of the B (Perfect unison), D# (Major third), F# (Perfect fifth) and E (Perfect eleventh) notes, with E as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a B add11/E chord

How to play the B add11/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 E (Perfect eleventh) — 17 semitones above B
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the B add11/E chord

Inversions with same root

E maj7(sus2)
E maj9(sus2)

Related chords with different root

B add11

Related slash chords

D# m(#5)/E
B major/E