How do you play the E maj13/A chord?

To play the E maj13/A chord on piano, play the E maj13 chord (E, G#, B, D#, F# 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 maj13/A chord means a E maj13 chord with A in the bass.

E maj13/A

Q: What notes are in the E maj13/A chord?

The E maj13/A chord uses the 6 notes of the E maj13 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth), D# (Major seventh), F# (Major ninth) and C# (Major thirteenth) — with A played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E maj13 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth), D# (Major seventh), F# (Major ninth) and C# (Major thirteenth) notes, with A as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E maj13/A chord

How to play the E maj13/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# (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above E
Add F# (Major ninth) — 14 semitones above E
Add C# (Major thirteenth) — 21 semitones above E
Press all 7 notes simultaneously to sound the E maj13/A chord

Inversions with same root

A maj13(#11)

Related slash chords

C# m11/A