How do you play the E addb9/C chord?

To play the E addb9/C chord on piano, play the E addb9 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 addb9/C chord means a E addb9 chord with C in the bass.

E addb9/C

Q: What notes are in the E addb9/C chord?

The E addb9/C chord uses the 4 notes of the E addb9 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and F (Minor ninth) — with C played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E addb9 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and F (Minor ninth) notes, with C as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E addb9/C chord

How to play the E addb9/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 (Minor ninth) — 13 semitones above E
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the E addb9/C chord

Related chords with different root

F m(maj7)(#11)

Related slash chords

F m(maj7)(b5)/C