How do you play the Db maj7(#5)/Ab chord?

To play the Db maj7(#5)/Ab chord on piano, play the Db maj7(#5) chord (Db, F, A and C) 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 maj7(#5)/Ab chord means a Db maj7(#5) chord with Ab in the bass.

Db maj7(#5)/Ab

Q: What notes are in the Db maj7(#5)/Ab chord?

The Db maj7(#5)/Ab chord uses the 4 notes of the Db maj7(#5) chord — Db (Perfect unison), F (Major third), A (Minor sixth) and C (Major seventh) — with Ab played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Db maj7(#5) chord consists of the Db (Perfect unison), F (Major third), A (Minor sixth) and C (Major seventh) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Db maj7(#5)/Ab chord

How to play the Db maj7(#5)/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 A (Minor sixth) — 8 semitones above Db
Add C (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above Db
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the Db maj7(#5)/Ab chord