How do you play the Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord?

To play the Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord on piano, play the Bb maj7(#5) chord (Bb, D, F# and A) 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 maj7(#5)/Ab chord means a Bb maj7(#5) chord with Ab in the bass.

Bb maj7(#5)/Ab

Q: What notes are in the Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord?

The Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord uses the 4 notes of the Bb maj7(#5) chord — Bb (Perfect unison), D (Major third), F# (Minor sixth) and A (Major seventh) — with Ab played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Bb maj7(#5) chord consists of the Bb (Perfect unison), D (Major third), F# (Minor sixth) and A (Major seventh) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord

How to play the Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord

Play Ab 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 F# (Minor sixth) — 8 semitones above Bb
Add A (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above Bb
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the Bb maj7(#5)/Ab chord