Tri-Tone Substitutions

Jazz Bassist & Songwriter, Marcus Miller (June 5, 2005)

Capital Jazz Festival

Using Tri-Tone substitutions are a good way to develop good voice leading in your progressions and also to create harmonic tension.

The interval between the third and seventh of a dominant chord is a Tri-Tone. Since this interval doesn't occur in major seventh or minor chords, its presence defines the dominant chord.

What's so unusual about the Tri-Tone is that it's the third and seventh of two different dominant seventh chords. B and F, the third and seventh of G7, are the same notes as Cb and F, the seventh and third of Db7. Because of this, G7 and Db7 can substitute for each other.

Try experimenting with Tri-Tone substitutions. This will add color to your overall improvisations.