How do you play the E 6/D chord?

To play the E 6/D chord on piano, play the E 6 chord (E, G#, B and C#) 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 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 6/D chord means a E 6 chord with D in the bass.

E 6/D

Q: What notes are in the E 6/D chord?

The E 6/D chord uses the 4 notes of the E 6 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and C# (Major sixth) — with D played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E 6 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and C# (Major sixth) notes, with D as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E 6/D chord

How to play the E 6/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
Add B (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above E
Add C# (Major sixth) — 9 semitones above E
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the E 6/D chord

Related chords with different root

C# m7(b9)
C# m7(b9)(#9)
E m7(add6)
E 7(add6)

Related slash chords

C# m7/D
C# m7(#9)/D
E add13/D