How do you play the C b5/A chord?

To play the C b5/A chord on piano, play the C b5 chord (C, E and F#) with A as the lowest bass note. Place the A 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 C b5/A chord means a C b5 chord with A in the bass.

C b5/A

Q: What notes are in the C b5/A chord?

The C b5/A chord uses the 3 notes of the C b5 chord — C (Perfect unison), E (Major third) and F# (Diminished fifth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The C b5 chord consists of the C (Perfect unison), E (Major third) and F# (Diminished fifth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a C b5/A chord

How to play the C b5/A chord

Play A as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find C (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add E (Major third) — 4 semitones above C
Add F# (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above C
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the C b5/A chord

Related chords with same root

A m6

Inversions with same root

A m(add13)

Related chords with different root

C 6(b5)
F# m7(b5)

Related slash chords

F# 7(b5)(sus)/A