How do you play the B b5/A chord?

To play the B b5/A chord on piano, play the B b5 chord (B, D# and F) with A as the lowest bass note. Place the A 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 b5/A chord means a B b5 chord with A in the bass.

B b5/A

Q: What notes are in the B b5/A chord?

The B b5/A chord uses the 3 notes of the B b5 chord — B (Perfect unison), D# (Major third) and F (Diminished fifth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The B b5 chord consists of the B (Perfect unison), D# (Major third) and F (Diminished fifth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a B b5/A chord

How to play the B b5/A chord

Play A 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 (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above B
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the B b5/A chord

Related chords with different root

F 7(b5)
B 7(b5)

Related slash chords

F 7(b5)(sus)/A