How do you play the E minor/C# chord?

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

E minor/C#

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

The E minor/C# chord uses the 3 notes of the E minor chord — E (Perfect unison), G (Minor third) and B (Perfect fifth) — with C# played as the bass note in the lowest register.

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

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a E minor/C# chord

How to play the E minor/C# chord

Play C# 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 B (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above E
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the E minor/C# chord

Inversions with same root

C# m7(b5)

Related chords with different root

E m6
E m(add13)
G 6(b5)