How do you play the D 5(add9)/A chord?

To play the D 5(add9)/A chord on piano, play the D 5(add9) chord (D, A and E) 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 D 5(add9)/A chord means a D 5(add9) chord with A in the bass.

D 5(add9)/A

Q: What notes are in the D 5(add9)/A chord?

The D 5(add9)/A chord uses the 3 notes of the D 5(add9) chord — D (Perfect unison), A (Perfect fifth) and E (Major ninth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The D 5(add9) chord consists of the D (Perfect unison), A (Perfect fifth) and E (Major ninth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a D 5(add9)/A chord

How to play the D 5(add9)/A chord

Play A as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find D (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add A (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above D
Add E (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above D
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the D 5(add9)/A chord

Inversions with same root

A sus4

Related chords with different root

D sus2
D 5(add9)
E 11(sus4)

Related slash chords

E 7(no3)/A