About Tritone Substitutions
A tritone substitution replaces a dominant 7th chord with another dominant 7th chord whose root is a tritone (three whole steps) away. This works because both chords share the same tritone interval between their 3rd and 7th degrees. The resulting chromatic bass movement creates smooth voice leading in jazz progressions.
Who Is This For?
These flashcards are for jazz musicians looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary. Pianists and guitarists use tritone subs for reharmonization, horn players use them for improvisation, and arrangers use them to add harmonic sophistication to compositions.
How to Practice
The tritone sub of any dominant chord is always 6 half-steps away (e.g., G7 becomes Db7). Practice until this relationship is automatic in all keys. Notice that in a ii-V-I, the tritone sub creates a chromatic descent: instead of Dm7-G7-Cmaj7, you get Dm7-Db7-Cmaj7, with the bass moving D-Db-C.
Common Challenges
Students sometimes confuse the direction of the tritone. Remember: counting up or down by 6 half-steps gives you the same note class. G7's tritone sub is Db7 (not D7 or C#7 conceptually, though enharmonically equivalent). Use the 60-second challenge to build instant recall.