How do you play the Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord?

To play the Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord on piano, play the Bb m7(alt) chord (Bb, Db, F#, Ab and Db) with Ab as the lowest bass note. Place the Ab 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 m7(alt)/Ab chord means a Bb m7(alt) chord with Ab in the bass.

Bb m7(alt)/Ab

Q: What notes are in the Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord?

The Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord uses the 5 notes of the Bb m7(alt) chord — Bb (Perfect unison), Db (Minor third), F# (Minor sixth), Ab (Minor seventh) and Db (Minor tenth) — with Ab played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Bb m7(alt) chord consists of the Bb (Perfect unison), Db (Minor third), F# (Minor sixth), Ab (Minor seventh) and Db (Minor tenth) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord

How to play the Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord

Play Ab as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find Bb (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add Db (Minor third) — 3 semitones above Bb
Add F# (Minor sixth) — 8 semitones above Bb
Add Ab (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above Bb
Add Db (Minor tenth) — 15 semitones above Bb
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the Bb m7(alt)/Ab chord

Related chords with different root

Gb add2
Gb add9
Bb m7(#5)
Bb m7(alt)

Related slash chords

Gb major/Ab
Bb m(#5)/Ab