How do you play the E 3/D chord?

To play the E 3/D chord on piano, play the E 3 chord (E and G#) with D as the lowest bass note. Place the D note below the other chord tones. Slash chords specify a particular bass note different from the chord root.

What notes are in the E 3/D chord?

The E 3/D chord uses the 2 notes of the E 3 chord — E (Perfect unison) and G# (Major third) — with D played as the bass note in the lowest register.

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 3/D chord means a E 3 chord with D in the bass.

E 3/D

The E 3 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison) and G# (Major third) notes, with D as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E 3/D chord

How to play the E 3/D chord

Play D as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find E (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add G# (Major third) — 4 semitones above E
Press all 3 notes simultaneously to sound the E 3/D chord

Inversions with same root

D sus2(b5)

Related chords with different root

E 7(no5)