How do you play the E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord?

To play the E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord on piano, play the E 7(b5)(sus) chord (E, Bb and D) with Bb as the lowest bass note. Place the Bb 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 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord means a E 7(b5)(sus) chord with Bb in the bass.

E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb

Q: What notes are in the E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord?

The E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord uses the 3 notes of the E 7(b5)(sus) chord — E (Perfect unison), Bb (Diminished fifth) and D (Minor seventh) — with Bb played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E 7(b5)(sus) chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), Bb (Diminished fifth) and D (Minor seventh) notes, with Bb as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord

How to play the E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord

Play Bb as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find E (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add Bb (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above E
Add D (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above E
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the E 7(b5)(sus)/Bb chord

Inversions with same root

Bb b5

Related chords with different root

E 7(b5)(sus)

Related slash chords

E 7(no3)/Bb