How do you play the E 9/A chord?

To play the E 9/A chord on piano, play the E 9 chord (E, G#, B, D and F#) with A as the lowest bass note. Place the A 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 9/A chord means a E 9 chord with A in the bass.

E 9/A

Q: What notes are in the E 9/A chord?

The E 9/A chord uses the 5 notes of the E 9 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth), D (Minor seventh) and F# (Major ninth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E 9 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth), D (Minor seventh) and F# (Major ninth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E 9/A chord

How to play the E 9/A chord

Play A 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
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the E 9/A chord

Related chords with different root

E 11