To Slash or not to Slash?

Question

In years gone by, when I saw a chord marked, for example, A, I would use any inversion or voicing I felt was appropriate - still do; it doesn't *have* to be root position. Or does it? Is there an untold rule that says unless a marked chord has a slash saying which inversion,(i.e.A/E, 2nd inv.) it *should* be played as root. It's a given that a slash chord needs (at least as far as the composer's concerned) the bass note to be that after the slash.When did chords start to be named with slashes, and where did it come from?

Answer 1

Indeed, a letter by itself means play the root position. And I don’t know for sure how the current method got started. But I suspect it grew from the lead sheets of the big bands guys. And I think it was in the 50s and 60s, with Nelson Riddle and Burt Bacharach (among many arrangers), that the symbols became standardized.

It you find a better story, please let me know.