How do you play the E dim7/A chord?

To play the E dim7/A chord on piano, play the E dim7 chord (E, G, A# and C#) 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 dim7/A chord means a E dim7 chord with A in the bass.

E dim7/A

Q: What notes are in the E dim7/A chord?

The E dim7/A chord uses the 4 notes of the E dim7 chord — E (Perfect unison), G (Minor third), A# (Diminished fifth) and C# (Major sixth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E dim7 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G (Minor third), A# (Diminished fifth) and C# (Major sixth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E dim7/A chord

How to play the E dim7/A chord

Play A as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find E (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add G (Minor third) — 3 semitones above E
Add A# (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above E
Add C# (Major sixth) — 9 semitones above E
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the E dim7/A chord

Inversions with same root

A 7(b9)

Related slash chords

C# dim7/A
G dim7/A
A# dim7/A