How do you play the D 7(alt)/A chord?

To play the D 7(alt)/A chord on piano, play the D 7(alt) chord (D, F#, A#, C 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 D 7(alt)/A chord means a D 7(alt) chord with A in the bass.

D 7(alt)/A

Q: What notes are in the D 7(alt)/A chord?

The D 7(alt)/A chord uses the 5 notes of the D 7(alt) chord — D (Perfect unison), F# (Major third), A# (Minor sixth), C (Minor seventh) and F (Minor tenth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The D 7(alt) chord consists of the D (Perfect unison), F# (Major third), A# (Minor sixth), C (Minor seventh) and F (Minor tenth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a D 7(alt)/A chord

How to play the D 7(alt)/A chord

Play A as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find D (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add F# (Major third) — 4 semitones above D
Add A# (Minor sixth) — 8 semitones above D
Add C (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above D
Add F (Minor tenth) — 15 semitones above D
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the D 7(alt)/A chord