How do you play the Db major/Ab chord?

To play the Db major/Ab chord on piano, play the Db major chord (Db, F and Ab) 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 major/Ab chord means a Db major chord with Ab in the bass.

Db major/Ab

Q: What notes are in the Db major/Ab chord?

The Db major/Ab chord uses the 3 notes of the Db major chord — Db (Perfect unison), F (Major third) and Ab (Perfect fifth) — with Ab played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The Db major chord consists of the Db (Perfect unison), F (Major third) and Ab (Perfect fifth) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a Db major/Ab chord

How to play the Db major/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
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the Db major/Ab chord

Related chords with different root

Db major
F m(#5)

Related slash chords

Db 3/Ab