How do you play the E maj7/D chord?

To play the E maj7/D chord on piano, play the E maj7 chord (E, G#, B and D#) 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 maj7/D chord means a E maj7 chord with D in the bass.

E maj7/D

Q: What notes are in the E maj7/D chord?

The E maj7/D chord uses the 4 notes of the E maj7 chord — E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and D# (Major seventh) — with D played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The E maj7 chord consists of the E (Perfect unison), G# (Major third), B (Perfect fifth) and D# (Major seventh) notes, with D as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E maj7/D chord

How to play the E maj7/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 B (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above E
Add D# (Major seventh) — 11 semitones above E
Press all 5 notes simultaneously to sound the E maj7/D chord