Slash Chords on Guitar: C/G, D/F#, and the Bass Note Trick

A slash chord is a chord with a non-root note in the bass. Written as Chord/Bass. C/G means a C major chord with G as the bass note instead of C. D/F# means D major with F sharp in the bass. The slash separates "what chord" from "what bass note."

Slash chords matter because the bass line of a song is what gives it forward motion. Move the bass through a stepwise descent (G, F#, E, D) and the song feels like it's walking somewhere. Slash chords are the tool for that.

The Most Common Slash Chords

C/G (C with G in the bass)

A regular C major chord with the 6th string fretted at the 3rd fret to give you a low G.

• Use the standard C major shape
• 6th string (low E): 3rd fret, with the pinky or thumb
• Strum all 6 strings

The C is now a 5-note chord with G in the bass. Sounds fuller than regular C.

D/F# (D with F sharp in the bass)

A regular D chord with the 6th string fretted at the 2nd fret (F#) using the thumb.

• Use the standard D major shape
• 6th string (low E): 2nd fret, thumb wrap over the top
• 5th string: muted
• Strum strings 6, then 4 through 1

Used for descending bass lines like G-D/F#-Em-D, which appears in countless folk and pop songs.

G/B (G with B in the bass)

A regular G chord but with the 5th string fretted at the 2nd fret (B) instead of the 3rd fret of the 6th string.

• 5th string (A): 2nd fret, middle finger
• 3rd string (G): open or 0 (already open)
• 1st string (high E): 3rd fret, ring finger or pinky
• Skip the 6th string

Used for ascending bass lines like G/B-C-D-G or as a passing chord between G and Am.

The Descending Bass Line Trick

The single most useful slash-chord pattern is the descending bass line in the key of G:

G - D/F# - Em - D - C - G/B - Am7 - D

The bass walks down: G, F#, E, D, C, B, A, then resolves back. The chords on top stay diatonic (in the key). This pattern appears in "Stairway to Heaven", "Dust in the Wind", and a thousand singer-songwriter songs.

Play this pattern slowly with a metronome. Listen to the bass note descend. The chords above the bass barely change in feeling, but the bass motion gives the song its emotional arc.

Slash Chords vs Inversions

A slash chord that puts a chord tone in the bass is technically an inversion. C/G is a 2nd inversion of C major (the 5th in the bass). C/E is a 1st inversion (the 3rd in the bass). The slash notation is just a more readable way of writing inversions.

A slash chord that puts a non-chord-tone in the bass is something else, like an extended chord with an unusual bass note. C/F isn't a C major inversion at all; it's a C with F in the bass, which sounds suspended.

Songs That Use Slash Chords

• "Stairway to Heaven" uses descending bass lines throughout.
• "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd uses Em7-G/D-A7sus4-G in places.
• "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton has descending bass lines in the verse.
• Most singer-songwriter ballads. If a song has emotional arc, the bass is probably moving stepwise.

FAQ: Slash Chord Questions

What does the slash mean in a chord name?

It separates the chord from the bass note. Chord/Bass means "play this chord but put this note in the bass instead of the root."

Are slash chords the same as inversions?

Sometimes. A slash chord with a chord tone in the bass is an inversion. A slash chord with a non-chord tone in the bass is an extended chord with a specified bass note. Both use slash notation.

Why use slash chords?

To create stepwise bass-line motion. The bass moving smoothly between chords is what makes a song feel like it's walking somewhere instead of just changing chords.

How do I play D/F# without a thumb wrap?

Use a regular D shape and let the bassist (or the bass note in your fingerstyle pattern) play the F#. If you're solo, the thumb wrap is the cleanest option for an acoustic player.

Can any chord become a slash chord?

Yes. Pick any chord and any note, and you've got a slash chord. Whether it sounds good depends on whether the bass note fits the harmony.