How do you play the E 5/C# chord?

To play the E 5/C# chord on piano, play the E 5 chord (E and B) 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 notes are in the E 5/C# chord?

The E 5/C# chord uses the 2 notes of the E 5 chord — E (Perfect unison) and B (Perfect fifth) — with C# 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 5/C# chord means a E 5 chord with C# in the bass.

E 5/C#

The E 5 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison) and B (Perfect fifth) notes, with C# as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E 5/C# chord

How to play the E 5/C# chord

Play C# as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find E (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add B (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above E
Press all 3 notes simultaneously to sound the E 5/C# chord

Inversions with same root

C# m7(no5)
C# m7(#9)(no5)

Related chords with different root

E 6(sus)