How do you play the E b5/D chord?

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

E b5/D

Q: What notes are in the E b5/D chord?

The E b5/D chord uses the 3 notes of the E b5 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third) and A# (Diminished fifth) — with D played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E b5 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third) and A# (Diminished fifth) notes, with D as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E b5/D chord

How to play the E b5/D chord

Play D 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 A# (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above E
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the E b5/D chord

Related chords with different root

E 7(b5)
A# 7(b5)

Related slash chords

A# 7(b5)(sus)/D