How do you play the Db 7(#9)/Ab chord?

To play the Db 7(#9)/Ab chord on piano, play the Db 7(#9) chord (Db, F, Ab, Cb and E) with Ab as the lowest bass note. Place the Ab 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 Db 7(#9)/Ab chord means a Db 7(#9) chord with Ab in the bass.

Db 7(#9)/Ab

Q: What notes are in the Db 7(#9)/Ab chord?

The Db 7(#9)/Ab chord uses the 5 notes of the Db 7(#9) chord — Db (Perfect unison), F (Major third), Ab (Perfect fifth), Cb (Minor seventh) and E (Minor tenth) — with Ab played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Db 7(#9) chord consists of the Db (Perfect unison), F (Major third), Ab (Perfect fifth), Cb (Minor seventh) and E (Minor tenth) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Db 7(#9)/Ab chord

How to play the Db 7(#9)/Ab chord

Play Ab as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find Db (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add F (Major third) — 4 semitones above Db
Add Ab (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above Db
Add Cb (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above Db
Add E (Minor tenth) — 15 semitones above Db
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the Db 7(#9)/Ab chord

Related chords with different root

Db 7(#9)

Related slash chords

Db 7(#9)(no5)/Ab