Slash chords
A slash chord is a chord with a bass note written after it: C/E means a C major chord with E as the lowest note. The chord comes before the slash and the bass note after it.
Inversions and other bass notes
When the bass note is one of the chord's own notes, the slash chord is an inversion. C/E has the 3rd in the bass, which is the first inversion; C/G has the 5th in the bass, the second inversion. A 7th in the bass is the third inversion, so Am/G is Am7 with G lowest.
When the bass note is not in the chord, it adds a note, and the result is a different chord written in an easier way. C/D has the notes of D9sus4, and F/G has the notes of G9sus4. Writers use the slash because C/D tells a guitarist and a bass player exactly what to play.
Why they are used
Slash chords let a bass line move by step under chords that change less. C, G/B, Am walks the bass down C, B, A. D, D/F#, G walks it up D, F sharp, G.
20 common slash chords
| Chord | Notes | What it is | Guitar | Chord page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C/E | E C G | E is the 3rd of C, so this is C major in first inversion. | 032010 | C |
| C/G | G C E | G is the 5th of C, so this is C major in second inversion. | 332010 | C |
| G/B | B G D | B is the 3rd of G, so this is G major in first inversion. | x20003 | G |
| G/D | D G B | D is the 5th of G, so this is G major in second inversion. | xx0003 | G |
| D/F# | F# D A | F# is the 3rd of D, so this is D major in first inversion. | 20023x | D |
| D/A | A D F# | A is the 5th of D, so this is D major in second inversion. | x00232 | D |
| A/C# | C# A E | C# is the 3rd of A, so this is A major in first inversion. | x42220 | A |
| A/E | E A C# | E is the 5th of A, so this is A major in second inversion. | 002220 | A |
| E/G# | G# E B | G# is the 3rd of E, so this is E major in first inversion. | 422400 | E |
| F/A | A F C | A is the 3rd of F, so this is F major in first inversion. | x03211 | F |
| F/C | C F A | C is the 5th of F, so this is F major in second inversion. | x33211 | F |
| Bb/D | D Bb F | D is the 3rd of Bb, so this is B flat major in first inversion. | xx0331 | Bb |
| Am/E | E A C | E is the 5th of Am, so this is A minor in second inversion. | 002210 | Am |
| Am/G | G A C E | Am7/G: G is not in Am, so this is a different chord over that bass. G is the flat 7th of Am7, so this is A minor seventh in third inversion. | 302010 | Am |
| Em/D | D E G B | Em7/D: D is not in Em, so this is a different chord over that bass. D is the flat 7th of Em7, so this is E minor seventh in third inversion. | xx0000 | Em |
| Dm/C | C D F A | Dm7/C: C is not in Dm, so this is a different chord over that bass. C is the flat 7th of Dm7, so this is D minor seventh in third inversion. | x30211 | Dm |
| C/B | B C E G | Cmaj7/B: B is not in C, so this is a different chord over that bass. B is the 7th of Cmaj7, so this is C major seventh in third inversion. | x22010 | C |
| Am/F# | F# A C E | F#m7b5: F# is not in Am, so this is a different chord over that bass. F#, A, C and E are the root, flat 3rd, flat 5th and flat 7th of F#m7b5. | 202210 | Am |
| C/D | D C E G | D9sus4: D is not in C, so this is a different chord over that bass. D, G, C and E are the root, 4th, flat 7th and 9th of D9sus4. The 5th (A) is left out, which keeps the name. | xx0010 | C |
| F/G | G F A C | G9sus4: G is not in F, so this is a different chord over that bass. G, C, F and A are the root, 4th, flat 7th and 9th of G9sus4. The 5th (D) is left out, which keeps the name. | 3332xx | F |
Questions
What is a slash chord?
A chord with a bass note written after a slash: C/E is a C major chord with E as the lowest note. The letter before the slash is the chord, the letter after it is the bass.
What is the difference between a slash chord and an inversion?
When the bass note belongs to the chord, the slash chord is an inversion: C/E is C major in first inversion, C/G in second. When it doesn't, the bass adds a note and the result is another chord: C/D is the notes of D9sus4.
How do you play C/G on guitar?
Play a C chord with G as its lowest note. A common shape is 332010. G is the 5th of C, so this is C major in second inversion.
Why do songs use slash chords?
To move the bass line by step while the chords above stay put or change slowly. C, G/B, Am walks the bass down C, B, A, which a plain C, G, Am would jump around.