5/7/2019 Slash chords on guitar

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Slash chords
The slash chords (a.k.a. split chords) are named so because
of the slash symbol in the chord name. For example C/D is a C
chord with a D as the bass note. Therefore, it includes the
notes D, C, E and G as opposed to a regular C chord including
C, E and G.

The slash chords are related to inverted chords, but can also have a bass note that doesn’t belong to the
original chord.

Let’s say you’re playing in a band; in this case you will probably stick to the ordinary C chord as the
bassist will take care of the bass note D. But playing on your own you will instead include all the four
notes on your guitar. It isn’t strictly necessary in the way that your music will be completely awkward
just playing the regular C chord, but you will discover that there’re many possibilities to elaborate a
song with slash chords (see suggestions of progressions further below).

Overview of slash chords

C/B C/D D/B D/C

D/A Dm/C Dm/B Dm/A

Em/D Em/B E/C# E/D#

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F/E G/F# A/F# A/G

Am/F# Am/G Bm/A

Slash chords sorted by note

The pictures above show some of the most useful chords with alternative bass notes. But there is more,
and some are listed here in annotated form:

C
C/F: 1 X 2 0 1 X
C11/B b : X 1 0 0 1 1
Cmaj 1 3 / G : 3 3 2 0 0 2

Cm/A: X 0 1 0 1 0 3

D
D/E: X X 2 0 3 2
D/F: X X 3 0 3 2
D/C#: X 4 0 2 3 2
Dmaj 7 / E : 0 0 0 2 2 2
D9/F# : 2 0 0 2 1 0
Dadd9 / A : X 0 7 7 7 X

Dm11 / A : X 0 0 0 1 1
Dmad d 9 / A : X 0 3 2 3 0

E
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E/D: X X 0 1 0 0
E/A: X 0 6 4 5 X
E11/A : X 0 0 1 0 0
Em/C: X 3 2 0 0 0
Em/D# : X X 1 0 0 0
Em/F: 1 2 2 0 0 0
Em/G: 3 2 2 0 0 0
Em/A: X 0 2 0 0 0

F
F/D: X X 0 2 1 1

G
G/A: X 0 0 0 0 3
G/C: X 3 0 0 0 3
G/F#: X X 4 4 3 3
G6no3 / D : X X 0 0 3 0

Gm/Bb : X 1 0 0 3 3

A
A/D: X X 0 2 2 0
A/F#: 2 0 2 2 2 0

Am7/ G : 3 0 2 0 1 0
Am11/ G : 3 0 0 2 1 0

B
Bsus2 / E : 0 2 4 4 2 2
B7/D# : X X 1 2 0 2

Bm(ad d 4 ) / A : X 0 4 4 3 0

See also: power chords with alternative bass note.

When the instrument sets the limit

It is possible to play all combinations in the area of chords with alternative bass notes. However, in
some cases it doesn't work very well because of the instrument. In some cases, other better possibilities
can be found by using alternate tunings.

Chord progressions with slash chord

Slash chords are often used to make smooth progressions between chords. Instead of change directly
from a C to an Am the slash chord C/B can be put in between. This works well because the note B is
flanked by A and C in the relevant musical scale. Here follows examples of the usability of slash chords
in progressions:

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C – C/B – Am

Another approach on the same theme is to insert a G/F# chord between G and Em. F# (F sharp) is
positioned between G and E in the scale of G major.

G – G/F# – Em

A third example show a way to alternate the E - D - A progression:

E – E/D# – A

As an alternative to the ordinary Am to G sequence we can get another feeling by playing:

Am – A m / G – G

The next example make use of Bm/A:

D – Bm/A – G

A slight nuance can be created by Em/D placed between Em (possibly with the alternate fingerings
XX2000) and Cmaj7:

Em – E m / D – C maj7

Without being very common F/E could be used as an in-between chord by the same principles as the
sequences above. (Instead for F - F/E it is also possible and quite easier to play Fmaj7 - Fma7/E.)

F – F/E – Dm

The slash chord D/C# can be played by baring the three lowest string with one finger to be able to reach
up to the C# on the fourth fret on the fifth string.

D – D/C# – Bm

Chord progressions with many slash chords

In the same fashion as some of the examples above, but using two slash chords is also an alternative in
some occasions. Scroll up to see diagrams.

Am – A m / G – A m/F# – F

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This is a nice sequence and you can to play to strum the block chords or just the bass strings in the
Am/G, Am/F# movement, or something in between. The following progression has many similarities:

A – A/G – A/F# – E

For the above sequence you need to play the A chord with only the index fingers or use the thumb for
the bass strings.

D – D / C – D / B – D /A

Dm – D m / C – D m/B – Dm/A

The similarities with the two progressions above are obvious. Both will sound nice, and especially with
different finger picking patterns.

A similar example:

D – D/C# – D/B

Em/B – E m / D – C

E – E / B – E / C – E /C#

Two sequences with E minor and major respectively. Yes, it is true that C cannot be found in the E
major scale, but it will still work as a chromatic bass walk.

Bm7 – B m 7 / F # – Em

Another progression, why stop? This includes a minor seventh, and of course, you could elaborate
almost endlessly with alternative bass note in several chord categories.

G – G / F # – C / E – Am/E – Am/F# – G

The progression above includes both slash chords in forms of inverted triads and with alternative bass
notes.

Although, it is not always that shifting to another chord via a slash chord works that well. Sometimes
there are no perfect changes. Like C/D#, which on piano had been suitable between C and D, but there

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is no chord shape on the guitar that makes the transition smooth, and the bigger the changes are in
finger positions, the less likely for the progression to sound great.

Famous songs with many slash chords

For example, is the Eagles song "Hotel California" consisting of a longer sequence with this chord type:

Am/C – E / B – G / B – D/A – F/A – C /G – Dm/A – E/G # ("Hotel California" by Eagles)

A last comment
If you’re playing in a band; in this case you probably will stick to the ordinary chord as the bassist will
take care of the bass note. But when playing on your own you will play all the four notes on your guitar.
It isn’t strictly necessary in the way that your music will be completely awkward just playing the regular
C chord, but as you probably discovered by now there’re many possibilities to elaborate a
progression/song with slash chords.

Back to chord types

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