How do you play the D 9/D# chord?

To play the D 9/D# chord on piano, play the D 9 chord (D, F#, A, C and E) with D# as the lowest bass note. Place the D# 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 9/D# chord means a D 9 chord with D# in the bass.

D 9/D#

Q: What notes are in the D 9/D# chord?

The D 9/D# chord uses the 5 notes of the D 9 chord — D (Perfect unison), F# (Major third), A (Perfect fifth), C (Minor seventh) and E (Major ninth) — with D# played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The D 9 chord consists of the D (Perfect unison), F# (Major third), A (Perfect fifth), C (Minor seventh) and E (Major ninth) notes, with D# as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a D 9/D# chord

How to play the D 9/D# chord

Play D# 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 (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above D
Add C (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above D
Add E (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above D
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the D 9/D# chord