How do you play the F m7(b9)/Ab chord?

To play the F m7(b9)/Ab chord on piano, play the F m7(b9) chord (F, Ab, C, Eb and Gb) with Ab as the lowest bass note. Place the Ab 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 F m7(b9)/Ab chord means a F m7(b9) chord with Ab in the bass.

F m7(b9)/Ab

Q: What notes are in the F m7(b9)/Ab chord?

The F m7(b9)/Ab chord uses the 5 notes of the F m7(b9) chord — F (Perfect unison), Ab (Minor third), C (Perfect fifth), Eb (Minor seventh) and Gb (Minor ninth) — with Ab played as the bass note in the lowest register.

The F m7(b9) chord consists of the F (Perfect unison), Ab (Minor third), C (Perfect fifth), Eb (Minor seventh) and Gb (Minor ninth) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a F m7(b9)/Ab chord

How to play the F m7(b9)/Ab chord

Play Ab as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find F (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add Ab (Minor third) — 3 semitones above F
Add C (Perfect fifth) — 7 semitones above F
Add Eb (Minor seventh) — 10 semitones above F
Add Gb (Minor ninth) — 13 semitones above F
Press all 6 notes simultaneously to sound the F m7(b9)/Ab chord

Inversions with same root

Ab m7(add6)
Ab 7(add6)

Related chords with different root

F m7(b9)
F m7(b9)(#9)