Tritone Subs for that Jazzy Sound

Tritone substitutions are a powerful tool used by jazz musicians to create more interesting harmonic progressions and to add a jazzy flavor to their playing. In this article, we’ll explore what tritone substitutions are, how they work, and how they can be used to make your playing sound more jazzy.

First, let’s define what a tritone is. In music theory, a tritone is an interval of three whole steps, or six half steps. It is also known as an augmented fourth or a diminished fifth. The tritone is one of the most dissonant intervals in Western music, and it has been historically associated with tension and instability.

In traditional Western harmony, the tritone is often used as a dissonance that is resolved by moving to a more stable interval. For example, in a dominant seventh chord, the tritone interval between the third and seventh of the chord creates tension that is resolved when the chord moves to a tonic chord.

Tritone substitutions work by replacing a dominant seventh chord with another chord that is a tritone away. For example, instead of playing a G7 chord in a C major chord progression, you could substitute it with a Db7 chord. The Db7 chord has the same tritone interval as the G7 chord (between the third and seventh), but the other two notes of the chord are different.

This substitution works because the tritone interval between the third and seventh of the dominant seventh chord is what creates the tension and the resolution in the chord progression. By substituting a chord that has the same tritone interval, the tension and resolution are maintained, but the substitution adds new harmonic possibilities and creates a different sound.

One of the most common uses of tritone substitutions in jazz is to create chromatic movement in the bass line. In a typical jazz progression, the bass line often moves in a series of descending fifths, such as C7 – F7 – Bb7 – Eb7. By substituting each dominant seventh chord with a tritone substitution, the bass line can move chromatically in half-steps, creating a more interesting and jazzy sound.

Another use of tritone substitutions is to create more complex harmonies and chord progressions. For example, in a ii-V-I progression, the V chord is often substituted with a tritone substitution. In the key of C major, the progression would be Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7. By substituting the G7 chord with a Db7 chord, the progression becomes Dm7 – Db7 – Cmaj7. This adds a new color and tension to the progression, making it more interesting and sophisticated.

Tritone substitutions are a powerful tool that can help you create more interesting and jazzy harmonic progressions. By understanding how they work and how they can be used, you can add a new level of sophistication to your playing and create a more unique and personal sound. Try experimenting with tritone substitutions in your own playing and see how they can transform your sound!