learning the chords

[johand]

If a Am7 is played in 2nd inversion, shouldn't there be "Am7/E" in the leadsheet instead of just Am7?

[pdxdjazz]

If a Am7 is played in 2nd inversion, shouldn't there be "Am7/E" in the leadsheet instead of just Am7?

The "slash" chord is usually only specified for musical reasons, like where the moving bass note is important to the flow of the progression.
Like the B-sections in these
Hey Jude - The Beatles (Lennon, McCartney)
Imagine - John Lennon

Or where a pedal-tone is desired.
(End of the B-section)
La Mer dfb - Charles Trenet

Otherwise, every chord without the root on the bottom would be written with a "/".
)BOB