How do you play the D sus(#4)/E chord?

To play the D sus(#4)/E chord on piano, play the D sus(#4) chord (D, G# and A) 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 sus(#4)/E chord means a D sus(#4) chord with E in the bass.

D sus(#4)/E

Q: What notes are in the D sus(#4)/E chord?

The D sus(#4)/E chord uses the 3 notes of the D sus(#4) chord — D (Perfect unison), G# (Diminished fifth) and A (Perfect fifth) — with E played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The D sus(#4) chord consists of the D (Perfect unison), G# (Diminished fifth) and A (Perfect fifth) notes, with E as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a D sus(#4)/E chord

How to play the D sus(#4)/E chord

Play E as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find D (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add G# (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above D
Add A (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above D
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the D sus(#4)/E chord

Inversions with same root

E 7(add11)(no5)

Related slash chords

G# Viennese trichord/E