Member-only story

Jazz It Up with Tritone Substitution Exercises: A Comprehensive Guide for Musicians

Pete Blair

·4.5k Followers· Follow

Published in JAZZ IT UP I: Tritone Substitution Exercises

4 min read

472 View Claps

43 Respond

Save

Listen

Tritone substitution is a powerful jazz harmony technique that can add color, tension, and interest to your solos and improvisations. By replacing a dominant seventh chord with its tritone substitute, you can create a more complex and sophisticated sound.

In this article, we will explore the theory behind tritone substitution and provide you with a series of exercises to help you master this technique. We will also discuss how to use tritone substitutions in your own playing.

A tritone is an interval of three whole tones, or six semitones. It is considered a dissonant interval, and it can create a sense of tension and instability in music.

JAZZ IT UP! I: Tritone Substitution Exercises

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3868 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	13 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Tritone substitution is a jazz harmony technique that involves replacing a dominant seventh chord with its tritone substitute. The tritone substitute is a dominant seventh chord built on the tritone (flattened fifth) of the original chord.

For example, the tritone substitute for the C dominant seventh chord (C7) is the Db dominant seventh chord (Db7). The tritone in this case is the interval between C and F#.

There are several reasons why you might want to use tritone substitution in your jazz playing. First, it can add color and interest to your solos and improvisations. By replacing a dominant seventh chord with its tritone substitute, you can create a more complex and sophisticated sound.

Second, tritone substitution can help you to avoid playing the same old licks over and over again. By using this technique, you can create new and interesting melodic lines that will keep your playing fresh.

Third, tritone substitution can help you to connect with other musicians in a jazz ensemble. By using this technique, you can create a more cohesive and interactive sound that will make your playing more enjoyable for both you and your fellow musicians.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using tritone substitution in your jazz playing. First, you should only use this technique sparingly. Too much tritone substitution can make your playing sound cluttered and dissonant.

Second, you should make sure that the tritone substitute fits well with the rest of the music. The substitute chord should sound natural and logical in the context of the song.

Third, you should be careful not to overuse the same tritone substitution over and over again. There are many different tritone substitutions that you can use, so experiment with different options to find the ones that work best for you.

The best way to master tritone substitution is to practice it regularly. The following exercises will help you to develop your understanding of this technique and to incorporate it into your own playing.

Exercise 1:

Play the following dominant seventh chords in order: C7, Db7, Eb7, F7, Gb7, Ab7, Bb7.

Exercise 2:

For each of the following dominant seventh chords, identify its tritone substitute:

Exercise 3:

Create a jazz solo or improvisation that uses tritone substitution.

Tritone substitution is a powerful jazz harmony technique that can add color, tension, and interest to your playing. By mastering this technique, you can take your playing to the next level and create more sophisticated and interesting solos and improvisations.

We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of tritone substitution. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

JAZZ IT UP! I: Tritone Substitution Exercises

5 out of 5