How do you play the C Viennese trichord/Bb chord?

To play the C Viennese trichord/Bb chord on piano, play the C Viennese trichord chord (C, Db and Gb) with Bb as the lowest bass note. Place the Bb note below the other chord tones. Slash chords specify a particular bass note different from the chord root.

What notes are in the C Viennese trichord/Bb chord?

The C Viennese trichord/Bb chord uses the 3 notes of the C Viennese trichord chord — C (Perfect unison), Db (Minor second) and Gb (Diminished fifth) — with Bb played as the bass note in the lowest register.

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 C Viennese trichord/Bb chord means a C Viennese trichord chord with Bb in the bass.

C Viennese trichord/Bb

The C Viennese trichord chord consists of the C (Perfect unison), Db (Minor second) and Gb (Diminished fifth) notes, with Bb as the bass note.

How to play the C Viennese trichord/Bb chord

Play Bb as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find C (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add Db (Minor second) — 1 semitone above C
Add Gb (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above C
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the C Viennese trichord/Bb chord

Related slash chords

Gb sus(#4)/Bb