Tritone Substitution
Four Ways to Create Tritone Substitution Over a Long ii V I
- Long ii V I
- Include the entire ii V and then the ii V a tritone away.
- Replace the V chord with a dominant chord a tritone away.
- State the ii and then a minor chord a tritone away from ii.
- State the V chord and then a dominant a tritone away.
Practice Patterns Used in Class
On each short minor chord play 1 2 3 5.
On each short dominant chord play 1 M7 m7 1.
On each long minor chord play 1 2 3 4 5 3 2 1.
On each long dominant chord play the bebop scale ending: 1 M7 m7 9 6 5.
On each short dominant chord play 1 M7 m7 1.
On each long minor chord play 1 2 3 4 5 3 2 1.
On each long dominant chord play the bebop scale ending: 1 M7 m7 9 6 5.
Tritone Bridge
"Tritone Bridge" is a term used to describe using tritone substitutions throughout the bridge of a rhythm tune. The tune "Lo Jo" by George Coleman uses a tritone bridge.
- Rhythm Changes Bridge (in the key of Bb)
- Dominant chords converted to ii Vs
- Full tritone substitution for each ii V, i.e. the "Tritone Bridge"
Equivalencies: G7+9+5 = Db7+11, G diminished whole tone = Db lydian dominant
Recall that spelling G7b5 and Db7b5 yield the same notes in a different order: G B Db F. They are identical.
Notice, also, that the G diminished whole tone scale and the Db lydian dominant scale are identical:
G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F G
Both are modes of the Ab ascending melodic minor scale!
Play a G7+9 on the piano with LH: G RH: B Eb F Bb (3 #5 b7 #9)
Keep the right hand the same and change the bass note to Db and what do you get? Db13
When you play "A Night in Tunisia" the chords are | Eb7 | D- | Eb7 | D- | etc.
What does Eb7 have to do with D-? It's a tritone sub for A7, the V of D-.
Therefore, on the Eb7 you can play Eb lydian dominant or A diminished whole tone.
They are the same, but the different perspective may help you may come up with different ideas.
Notice, also, that the G diminished whole tone scale and the Db lydian dominant scale are identical:
G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F G
Both are modes of the Ab ascending melodic minor scale!
Play a G7+9 on the piano with LH: G RH: B Eb F Bb (3 #5 b7 #9)
Keep the right hand the same and change the bass note to Db and what do you get? Db13
When you play "A Night in Tunisia" the chords are | Eb7 | D- | Eb7 | D- | etc.
What does Eb7 have to do with D-? It's a tritone sub for A7, the V of D-.
Therefore, on the Eb7 you can play Eb lydian dominant or A diminished whole tone.
They are the same, but the different perspective may help you may come up with different ideas.