How do you play the Bb b5/D chord?

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

Bb b5/D

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

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

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

How to play the Bb b5/D chord

Play D 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/D chord

Related chords with different root

E 7(b5)(sus)
Bb b5

Related slash chords

E dim(no3)/D
A# dim(no3)/C##