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6.2.9 D/F#: The Slash Chord
In most song books showing words and chords, or words, melody line, and chords, you will see chord notations such as these:
D/F♯G/D C/A
These chords are called slash chords, as in “D slash F♯” or “G slash D”. Although musicians usually say, “D over F♯” or “G over D”.
In slash chord notation, such as D/F♯:
- The note before the slash signifies the actual chord (in this example, the chord “D major”).
- The note after the slash is a bass note (in this example, the bass note “F♯”) played simultaneously with the chord.
Therefore, a slash chord is not generally considered to be a “unique” chord. Literally any chord can be turned into a slash chord.
If the bass note following the slash is one of the notes in the chord itself, then you just need to make sure the note following the slash is the lowest note in the chord.