Slash Chords

Slash chords are a type of chord symbol that indicate what type of chord is to be played along with what the lowest note of the chord voicing should be. For example, the chord symbol G/B indicates that a G-Major chord with the note B in the lowest voice, or bassline, should be played.

Slash chords can be used to indicate chord inversions, basslines, or pedal tones (A pedal tone is a held note during a series of chord changes).

Slash chords indicating chord inversions

Slash chords indicating a bassline

Slash chords indicating pedal tones

Chord Symbols

There are various Chord Symbols that can be combined to indicate many different types of chords.

Basic Chord Symbols:

• Letter Name (e.g., C) = Major chord
• m = minor chord
• + = Augmented chord
• o = diminished chord

Seventh Chords:

• 7 = minor seventh
• M7 = Major seventh
• Ø = half-diminished chord
• o7 = diminished seventh chord

Extended Chords:

• 9 = Ninth chord
• 11 = Eleventh chord
• 13 = Thirteenth chord

Altered Tones:

• b5 = flat fifth
• #5 = sharp fifth
• b9 = flat ninth
• #9 = sharp ninth
• #11 = sharp eleventh
• b13 = flat thirteenth

Examples:

• CM7 = a C Major chord with a Major seventh.
  
• Dm(M7) = a D minor chord with a Major seventh.


• Fm9 = an F minor chord with a minor seventh, and a ninth.


• C7#9 = a C Major chord with a minor seventh, and a sharp ninth.