Slash chords

Lets take: C/E

Would this imply that I should play the first inversion of the C maj chord? Or would it maybe imply that I should play a C maj chord with an E in the bass? Because Ive heard that the note after the slash is the note in the bass...

Thanks...

C/E simply means to play a C Maj Chord over an E note in the bass. The C major chord could be any inversion, it just depends upon the melody you want. Playing a series of different chords over the same base note is referred to as pedal point or pedal bass (often used in organ music where the bass note is played with the pedals).

In the bass as in the left hand or the lowest note of the chord in the right hand? Because C/E is the 1st inversion of Cmaj, but could it not also mean a Cmaj root pos. chord with E in the left hand playing the bass?

C/E can mean to play the 1st inversion of C Maj in the right hand, however more generally it just means to play any inversion of C Maj in the right hand accompanied by an E in the left hand somewhere below middle C. The inversion of C Maj you would play depends upon the melody you want (usually the highest played notes, though not always). If the melody you are playing requires a G you would play the root of C Maj in the right hand, if the melody requires an E you would play the 2nd inversion of C Maj in the right hand, and if the melody requires a C, you would play the 1st inversion of C Maj in the right hand. Often you will see examples where the note in the bass clashes with the chord to be played in the right hand, subsequently resolving onto another chord. For example Dmi/E followed by C/E. You can try playing different inversions of the two chords Dmi and C Maj to get different melodies.

C/E means you play a C major triad with the E in the bass or the bottom note. You can have any combination but E has to be the bass note. For example, E, G, C or E, C, G. This is the 1st inversion of a C major triad.

If you see C over E instead of a slash, then it’s no longer a C triad with E in the bass. This is then a C major triad over a E major triad. The notes with be E, G# B, C, E, G.

Yoke Wong
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