How do you play the D add9/E chord?

To play the D add9/E chord on piano, play the D add9 chord (D, F#, A and E) with E as the lowest bass note. Place the E 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 add9/E chord means a D add9 chord with E in the bass.

D add9/E

Q: What notes are in the D add9/E chord?

The D add9/E chord uses the 4 notes of the D add9 chord — D (Perfect unison), F# (Major third), A (Perfect fifth) and E (Major ninth) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

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

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a D add9/E chord

How to play the D add9/E chord

Play E 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 E (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above D
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the D add9/E chord

Related chords with different root

D add2
D add9
F# m7(#5)
F# m7(alt)

Related slash chords

D major/E
F# m(#5)/E