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

To play the C Viennese trichord/Eb chord on piano, play the C Viennese trichord chord (C, Db and Gb) with Eb as the lowest bass note. Place the Eb 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/Eb chord?

The C Viennese trichord/Eb chord uses the 3 notes of the C Viennese trichord chord — C (Perfect unison), Db (Minor second) and Gb (Diminished fifth) — with Eb 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/Eb chord means a C Viennese trichord chord with Eb in the bass.

C Viennese trichord/Eb

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

How to play the C Viennese trichord/Eb chord

Play Eb 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/Eb chord

Related slash chords

Gb sus(#4)/Eb