Chord Reading · 05

Slash Chords

C/E — written as "chord / bass note." Play the chord itself as usual, but swap only the lowest note (the bass) for whatever note follows the slash.


The note after the slash is, in most cases, one of the chord's own tones. Even though only the bass note changes, it noticeably shifts the chord's center of gravity and how the progression flows.

UseNote placed in the bassPurpose
Inversion · inversionThe chord's 3rd or 5thSmoothly connects the bass line to the surrounding chords in a stepwise line
Pedal point · pedalA fixed tonic or 5thThe chords above change while the bass holds one note, building tension
Polychord · polyA note outside the chord tonesCompresses two stacked harmonies into a single chord symbol
The Most Common Case — Inversion: Written as C → G/B → Am, the bass walks down C–B–A one step at a time. The chords themselves are still just C–G–Am, but the bass line becomes a smooth stepwise line.

In worship-team lead sheets, slash chords show up often in the build right before a bridge, or in walking bass lines. Even with an unfamiliar combination, just remember the principle: what's before the slash is "the chord you play," and what's after is "the note that replaces just the bass."

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