Understanding Chord Substitution

 **Piano Tutorial: Understanding Chord Substitution**

**What is Chord Substitution?**

Chord substitution is a technique used in music where one chord is replaced with another chord to create new harmonic possibilities while maintaining the overall structure and progression of a piece. It allows for creative variations and can add interest and depth to your piano playing.

**Concept of Chord Substitution:**

1. **Direct Substitution**: In direct substitution, a chord is replaced with another chord that shares similar harmonic characteristics. For example, a major chord can be substituted with its relative minor chord, or a dominant seventh chord can be substituted with its tritone substitution.

2. **Extended Chords**: Chord substitutions can involve using extended or altered chords to add color and tension to a progression. For instance, a major chord can be substituted with a major seventh chord or a major ninth chord for a richer sound.

3. **Secondary Dominants**: Another common substitution technique is using secondary dominant chords to create temporary tension and lead into a different chord. This adds movement and interest to the progression

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**Chord Substitution on the Major Scale:**

Let's explore chord substitutions for each chord in the major scale (I - ii - iii - IV - V - vi - vii°) in all keys:

1. **I (Major Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its relative minor chord (vi), e.g., C major (C-E-G) can be substituted with A minor (A-C-E).

2. **ii (Minor Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its dominant seventh chord (V7), e.g., D minor (D-F-A) can be substituted with A7 (A-C#-E-G).

3. **iii (Minor Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its relative major chord (I), e.g., E minor (E-G-B) can be substituted with C major (C-E-G).

4. **IV (Major Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its parallel minor chord (iv), e.g., F major (F-A-C) can be substituted with F minor (F-Ab-C).

5. **V (Major or Dominant Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its tritone substitution (bII7), e.g., G major (G-B-D) or G7 (G-B-D-F) can be substituted with Db7 (Db-F-Ab-Cb).

6. **vi (Minor Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its relative major chord (I), e.g., A minor (A-C-E) can be substituted with C major (C-E-G).

7. **vii° (Diminished Chord)**:

   - Substitution: Can be substituted with its leading tone chord (V7), e.g., B diminished (B-D-F) can be substituted with F#7 (F#-A#-C#-E).

**How to Apply Chord Substitutions on Piano:**

1. **Understand the Original Progression**: Start by analyzing the original chord progression and identifying opportunities for substitution.

2. **Experiment with Substitutes**: Try substituting chords with others that share similar harmonic functions or characteristics. Pay attention to how each substitution affects the overall sound and mood of the progression.

3. **Practice Smooth Transitions**: Practice transitioning between chords and substitutions smoothly to maintain the flow and coherence of the music.

4. **Use Ear Training**: Develop your ear to recognize when and where chord substitutions can be applied effectively. Trust your intuition and musical instincts.

**Example**:

Let's apply chord substitutions to a simple progression in C major (I - IV - V - I):

1. Original Progression: C - F - G - C

2. Substituted Progression: C - Fm7 - Db7 - C

In this example, we substituted the F major chord with F minor seventh (Fm7) and the G major chord with Db7, creating a more colorful and harmonically rich progression.

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