In this lesson, were going to explore an important tritone relationship for altered dominant chord voicings. Feb 18, 2014 this video gives you a more advanced explanation about what are tritone substitutions and how to use them in a jazz piano chord progression. In this video i am going to show you one of the scariest substitutions. Click here to subscribe to my personal email group. In other words, tritone substitution involves replacing v 7 with. Tritone substitutions are sometimes used in improvisationoften to create tension during a solo.
Chord substitution is for the harmony dude or dudette. Substituting chords by karen daniels simply put, chord substitution is the use of one chord in place of another chord and using them is one way to give your music interest and a change in sound. How to use a tritone substitution in your progressions the. The general chord substitution rule holds that chords that share two or more notes in common can be readily substituted for each other money chords. How to use a tritone substitution in your progressions. Its called a tritone substitution because the root of db7 is an augmented 4th nicknamed a tritone away from g7. Flatfive substitution tritone another kind of chord substitution which is often used in pop and jazz music is know as flatfive substitution. The minor 7th note is located a 7th above the root bottom note of the chord. In this next example ive utilized anticipating v chords in three examples.
Changing 3note chords to 4note chords video lesson. A useful relationship to understand, is that when we play this exact voicing. Download this free pdf containing rootless 251 progressions in all 12 keys. Theres a chord substitution from the first degree to the third degree with only one note changing in c major c major the c is changing to b. In fact, you can omit any note except for the 3rd and 7th guide tones of the chord and still retain the general sound or feel of the original chord. Again, if youre playing in the key of c, the v chord is g7 and the v of g is d7, so instead of playing cfg7, play cd7g7 instead. In music theory, chord substitution is the technique of using a chord in place of another in a. A tritone substitution is the process of replacing one dominant 7th chord with another dominant 7th chord located a tritone away from the original.
Most bassists are familiar with basic chord types, since we use basic r357 chord tones for building bass lines all the time. Though examples of the tritone substitution, known in the classical world as an augmented sixth chord, can be found. Substitute the expression from step 1 into the other equation. Diatonic chord substitution of the many ways to add color and variety to a composition, harmony can be one of the more elusive. Harmony free lessons these lessons deal with the process of improving and replacing harmony in songs.
Again, rather than start with the traditional g chord, were going to start preparing for the final g by inserting our dominant prep chord am. Using a minor 6th chord on the piano substitution concept. Many chord substitutions are available suspended, diminished 7 th, etc. In this lesson, im going to talk about tritone substitution, what it is, and 3 different types you should be aware of. Chord substitution possibilities part 1 chord substitution possibilities part 2 choosing a diminished 7th over a secondary dominant.
This lesson, however, will focus on substitution of minor and major chords. In practice, a tritone sub in jazz is most commonly a dominant 7 chord. Jazz comping instruments piano, guitar, organ, vibes often use chord substitution to add harmonic interest. When a i chord is leading into a iv chordadd a minor 7th to the i chord. I also i want to cover an interesting characteristic about the minor 6 th chord that you may have.
In the previous lesson on shell chords, we learned that you dont always have to play every single note in a chord. Group 1 can all usually be used to replace any minor or minor 7 chord. This substitution is made by replacing a dominant chord with a new dominant chord whose root is a diminished fifth interval above the original chordos root. We can use iiv substitution to make a progression more interesting. This doesnt mean you cant substitute other chord qualities, but a dominant 7 is most often the chord being used to replace.
This is far and away the easiest and most common substitution, and in fact its the standard turnaround in jazz. In other words, when we play simultaneously two notes that have three tones of distance between them, we are playing a tritone. Apr 01, 2015 yesterday i gave some detailed examples of common places you can use a tritone substitution, including some tunes that use tritone substitution in different ways. For example, in the key of c major, a gdom7 g7 could be replaced with a. A diatonic chord substitution occurs when using different notes within a scale. Figure 1 in the notes on proving arithmetic equations pdf listed a formal proof consisting of a sequence of. Tritone substitution the tritone, and the v chord that it is part of, are very unstable and want very much to resolve, as in figure 66. A tritone is simply a musical interval equal to six semitones.
A tritone is an interval of 3 whole steps or 6 half steps on the piano. Lets look at the next two measures for another trick and continue the principles. We use chord substitutions to create a different sound in the music. For example, a g7 chord can be substituted with the db7 chord. There are usually at least two parts to any song performance. Chord substitution part 2 ted greene 1973, november 16 i. Substitution proofs of arithmetic equations we describe an alternative notion of proof, called a substitution proof, for arithmetic equations. Group 2 are used to replace minor 7s and are most common on ii of a minor key vii of major. A tritone substitution is the substitution of one dominant seventh chord possibly altered or extended with another that is three whole steps a tritone from the original chord. How to play tritone substitutions and why you should care. The chords are interchangeable because the tritone interval pitches are identical in each. Calling it a tritone substitution might be a bit misleading if you dont understand the full theory of it. You may also be aware that different chords can sometimes be substituted for each other. See the following explanation of the chords before viewing the free pdf sheet of this chord substitution.
The rules behind tritone substitution say that you can replace this g dominant7 with the dominant chord that is 3 whole steps away or a tritone away. Because the db is a tritone, or 3 tones away from the g. Chord substitution chord substitution refers to the art of changing andor adding chords to a progression in order to create harmony that is different and more interesting. Just creating a chord of the same quality as the previous one a tritone up does not a tritone substitution make. A minor 6 th chord on the piano isnt what you would necessarily call an exotic chord. Mark watkins received his degrees from brigham young university and indiana university and has studied with eugene rousseau, daniel deffayet, ray. The tritone substitution is a dominant, or secondary dominant 7th chord whose root is a tritone 3 whole steps away from the original chord. Its easier to call it a b2 sub or something similar.
This is by far the most common tritone substitution. Today, i want to share with you a few concepts about using a minor 6 th chord on the piano. Chord substitution works when the substitute chord contains the 3rd and 7th of the original chord. In my series on piano chords, i cover these sub v7 chords and how to create them in more detail.
A substitution is just replacing one thing with another thing. Mar 24, 2017 an important technique that jazz musicians use to create harmonic movement is tritone substitution. For now, lets assume the melody is going to stay the same. Tritone substitution is a reharmonisation technique that can be used to add harmonic interest. This technique can add some great color to your jazz solos. The following chord substitutions work in a variety of. As you will see i a moment, this is incredibly easy to do. Volume 98 cd antonio carlos enclosed jobim bossa nova corcovado wave so banco samba 0 grande qrnor one samba how insensihive the girl from ipanema.
If you play a tritone ten times in a row before you go to bed tonight figure 67, you probably wont be able to fall asleepyoull have to get up, run to the piano, and resolve it to a i chord figure. In this case, its replacing one chord with another chord. As said in the article harmonic function, the dominant chord has tension sonority. About the only thing i would use in a standards format might be a iim7 for the iv chord and maybe a iiim7 for the i, none of which really move harmony away. In blues and jazz turnarounds, its common practice to use harmonic substitutions for any of the chords. This example is quite similar to iviivv only instead of going down harmonically we go up. Explanation of the tritone jazz chord substitution that adds so much colour to the sound by way of musical examples charlie parker, clifford brown. The tritone substitution the tritone substitution is very common in jazz, and it is the substitution of a dominant 7 chord with the dominant 7 chord three whole tones above the root. The use of a chord three whole steps away to replace or follow the original chord. You should already be familiar with the regular dominant voicings that we have covered in the lesson on rootless voicings. May 15, 2017 explanation of the tritone jazz chord substitution that adds so much colour to the sound by way of musical examples charlie parker, clifford brown. Note we still maintain a progression of 5ths, starting with the bbmaj7. These chords are interchangeable because the tritone interval pitches are identical in each.
Its responsible for some of those very interesting, authentic jazz harmony sounds that. This video gives you a more advanced explanation about what are tritone substitutions and how to use them in a jazz piano chord progression. Heres a piano chord chart of iiiiivv7 in all major scales. Yesterday i gave some detailed examples of common places you can use a tritone substitution, including some tunes that use tritone substitution in different ways. But you dont often hear as much about those as you do extended chords such as 7ths, 9ths, ths, etc. The greats know how the substitution looks on the fretboard, and apply it straight there. Tritone chord substitution in bass lines doug ross. This is where the confusion usually begins for students. Dm7 g7 cmaj7 can have the g7 chord replaced to a db7, so the progression would become. Tritone substitution is a reharmonisation technique that can be used to add harmonic interest and variety to a chord progression. The tritone substitution is one of the most common chord substitutions found in jazz and was the precursor to more complex substitution patterns like coltrane changes. We simply replace one chord with another one, and we have a chord substitution. By visualising the dominant th voicing a tritone away, we can quickly access the altered tensions of any dominant chord. Notice that the i chord is pushed further along in the bar.
Kiwi kid also mentioned diminished chords, which are great approach chords. The substitution of one chord for another, that is a tritone away from the one being substituted. Whether you are just starting with keyboard or you have been playing for a while, the diligence to focus on your foundation will pay off. Tritone chord substitution introduction 101 youtube. Chord substitution often results from an attempt to provide smooth voice leading. An important technique that jazz musicians use to create harmonic movement is tritone substitution. The tritone is a very common device used in the jazz and great american songbook repertoire.
The tritone substitution is a dominant 7th chord whose root is a tritone 3 whole steps away from the original dominant 7th chord. Were only talking about dominant 7th chords, not major or minor chords. Tritone substitutions refer to changing a dominant chord for another dominant chord a tritone away. A tritone substitution is a great way to make a typical iii7v sound more interesting. Tritone substitution used in jazz chord progressions. Iiv substitution by cycles of hybrid chords g7 c7 7 d7 g7 c7 ab7db7gb7b7 c7 eb7ab7d7db7c7 60 iiv substitution by cycles of hybrid chords different quality d7 g7 c7 d7 g7 c7 bb7ab7d7db7c7 eb7eb7ab7co. A iivi is the most commonly use chord progression in jazz, it is thus a bit boring. Heres an easy chord substitution for church pianists to use. Ive also subbed the last d7 chord for its tritone cousin, which is ab7. The tritone substitution is a great way to quickly get altered sounds into jazz guitar playing, be it simply just using the triad a b5 above the dominant 7 th chord in content or using full scales. The resulting equation should have only one variable, not both x and y. Another kind of chord substitution which is often used in pop and jazz music is know as flatfive substitution. Spicing up the i chord two ways to add 7ths to your music changing triads into 7th chords using the major 7th in your music. An introduction to chord substitutions for piano players.
The power of chord substitutions chord substitutions are one of the most powerful concepts in harmony, be it pop, jazz or any other. Tritone substitution part 1 of 2 cocktail piano lessons. The chord substitution just described above 3rd above or 3rd below is called the diatonic substitution. Handbook of chord substitutions paperback may 1, 1987 by andy laverne author 4. Mark watkins received his degrees from brigham young university and indiana university and has studied with eugene rousseau, daniel deffayet, ray smith, and yushi ishiwata and jazz with david baker. Its the most natural form of chord substitution because no note alterations take place. Just as you cant build a tenstory building on a foundation meant for three stories, you cant progress as a piano player any further than what. Tritone substitutions are also knows as substitute dominants or sub 5s so be aware that these 3 terms refer to the same thing. Check out this article that shows how the tritone sub can be applied to the i vi ii v progression. You can really substitute any chord for any other chord, but just plugging in chords willy nilly doesnt work so well. Today we are going to discuss some scales that you can use to approach various tritone substitutions when you improvise. Using scales to approach tritone substitution learn jazz. Jun, 2012 calling it a tritone substitution might be a bit misleading if you dont understand the full theory of it. The reason that this substitution works is that dominant 7 chords with a bass note a tritone apart share the same 3rd and 7th.
Tritone flat 5 substitute chords taming the saxophone. I also show you how you can switch between the dominant 7th and its tritone to create some interesting chords. Improving the chord by adding complexity such as turning triads into 7th chords. Tritone substitution tutorial what is tritone substitution.
With a seemingly infinite palette of chords available to you at every turn, knowing which one to choose can seem like a combination of instinct and good fortune. In order for a particular piano voicing to qualify as a tritone substitution it must exclude the root from the bass. One of the most common chord substitutions in jazz is the tritone substitution. So lets jump right into some different kinds of tritone substitutions.