Slash Chords

This article is about slash chords: what they are, why they’re used, and a description of the example chords demonstrated in the accompanying video. You may have seen a chord notated with a slash followed by a note, like D/F#. If you’re wondering what that means, don’t worry—I’m here to explain!

A slash chord consists of the regular chord before the slash and the note after the slash, indicating the chord's lowest pitch. For example, in D/F#, you play a standard D chord, but the lowest note you play is F#. That’s all there is to it! Similarly, Am/C means you play an A minor chord with C as the lowest note.

Why do we use these chords? They add a different quality to the sound. The note after the slash is part of the chord, creating an inversion. Inversions occur when the lowest pitch in the chord is something other than the root note. For basic major and minor chords, which consist of three notes (the root, the third, and the fifth), any arrangement that places a different note in the bass creates an inversion.

Here are some examples of how to finger the slash chords. 

D/F#

• Play a regular D chord with F# as the bass note (6th string, 2nd fret). Note that F# is part of the D chord.
• First finger: 3rd string, 2nd fret (A)
• Ring finger: 2nd string, 3rd fret (D)
• Second finger: 1st string, 2nd fret (F#)

Alternatively, you can also play it this way:

• First finger: 6th string, 2nd fret (F#)
• Second finger: 3rd string, 2nd fret (A)
• Ring finger: 1st string, 2nd fret (F#)
• Pinky finger: 2nd string, 3rd fret (D)

C/G

• Play a C chord with G as the bass note (6th string, 3rd fret). Note that G is part of the C chord.
• Ring finger: 6th string, 3rd fret (G)
• Pinky finger: 5th string, 3rd fret (C)
• Second finger: 4th string, 2nd fret (E)
• First finger: 2nd string, 1st fret (C)

Am/C

• Play a regular A minor chord with C as the bass note (5th string, 3rd fret). 
• Pinky finger: 5th string, 3rd fret ©
• Second finger: 4th string, 2nd fret (E)
• Ring finger: 3rd string, 2nd fret (A)
• First finger: 2nd string, 1st fret (C)

Try incorporating some slash chords into your chord progressions or songs and see how they sound!

Remember to always have fun with your guitar, and I’ll see you next time!

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About Mark Turko: Mark Turko is a professional guitar player and instructor with over 30 years of experience and teaches guitar lessons online.