How do you play the E 11/C chord?

To play the E 11/C chord on piano, play the E 11 chord (E, G#, B, D, F# and A) with C as the lowest bass note. Place the C 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 E 11/C chord means a E 11 chord with C in the bass.

E 11/C

Q: What notes are in the E 11/C chord?

The E 11/C chord uses the 6 notes of the E 11 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth), D (Minor seventh), F# (Major ninth) and A (Perfect eleventh) — with C played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E 11 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth), D (Minor seventh), F# (Major ninth) and A (Perfect eleventh) notes, with C as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E 11/C chord

How to play the E 11/C chord

Play C as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find E (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add G# (Major third) — 4 semitones above E
Add B (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above E
Add D (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above E
Add F# (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above E
Add A (Perfect eleventh) — 17 semitones above E
Press all 7 notes simultaneously to sound the E 11/C chord