How do you play the Bb b5/A chord?

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

Bb b5/A

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

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

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

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

How to play the Bb 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
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the Bb b5/A chord

Related chords with different root

E 11(b5)(sus4)
Bb maj7(b5)

Related slash chords

E 7(b5)(sus)/A