How do you play the E add9/C# chord?

To play the E add9/C# chord on piano, play the E add9 chord (E, G#, B and F#) 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 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 add9/C# chord means a E add9 chord with C# in the bass.

E add9/C#

Q: What notes are in the E add9/C# chord?

The E add9/C# chord uses the 4 notes of the E add9 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and F# (Major ninth) — with C# played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E add9 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and F# (Major ninth) notes, with C# as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E add9/C# chord

How to play the E add9/C# chord

Play C# 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 F# (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above E
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the E add9/C# chord

Inversions with same root

C# m7(add11)

Related chords with different root

E 6(add9)

Related slash chords

E add2/C#
G# m7(#5)/C#
G# m7(alt)/C#