How do you play the Bb 9(b5)/A chord?

To play the Bb 9(b5)/A chord on piano, play the Bb 9(b5) chord (Bb, D, Fb, Ab and C) 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 Bb 9(b5)/A chord means a Bb 9(b5) chord with A in the bass.

Bb 9(b5)/A

Q: What notes are in the Bb 9(b5)/A chord?

The Bb 9(b5)/A chord uses the 5 notes of the Bb 9(b5) chord — Bb (Perfect unison), D (Major third), Fb (Diminished fifth), Ab (Minor seventh) and C (Major ninth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Bb 9(b5) chord consists of the Bb (Perfect unison), D (Major third), Fb (Diminished fifth), Ab (Minor seventh) and C (Major ninth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Bb 9(b5)/A chord

How to play the Bb 9(b5)/A chord

Play A as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find Bb (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add D (Major third) — 4 semitones above Bb
Add Fb (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above Bb
Add Ab (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above Bb
Add C (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above Bb
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the Bb 9(b5)/A chord

Related slash chords

C 9(#5)/A