How do you play the G b5/Ab chord?

To play the G b5/Ab chord on piano, play the G b5 chord (G, B and Db) 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 G b5/Ab chord means a G b5 chord with Ab in the bass.

G b5/Ab

Q: What notes are in the G b5/Ab chord?

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

The G b5 chord consists of the G (Perfect unison), B (Major third) and Db (Diminished fifth) notes, with Ab as the bass note.

Piano keyboard showing the notes for a G b5/Ab chord

How to play the G b5/Ab chord

Play Ab as the lowest bass note in the left hand
Find G (Root) on the piano keyboard
Add B (Major third) — 4 semitones above G
Add Db (Diminished fifth) — 6 semitones above G
Press all 4 notes simultaneously to sound the G b5/Ab chord

Related slash chords

C# 7(b5)(sus)/G#