Jazz Chord Substitutions Explained

What are "chord substitutions," and how can they be used to spice up your jazz chords and solos? Let's talk about the 5 different kinds of jazz chord substitutions you need to know.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:12 What are chord substitutions?
01:15 #1 Chord substitution
03:19 #2 Chord substitution
05:22 #3 Chord substitution
07:35 #4 Chord substitution
19:09 #5 Chord substitution

💥Important Links and Resources💥

[CrazyQ]

I would not have had the chance to learn this. I'm 72 and it's the first time
I've gotten it. Thanks for the guidance.

[AnotherAnonymousMan]

Holy smokes! This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for!

I'm not even playing guitar: I'm a piano player but this explanation of jazz theory is outstanding. Very clear and really straight forward! I could watch this content every day HAPPILY!

Thank you so much!

[jodyguilbeaux]

i have heard this explained to me for 30 years. Your explanation is the best that i have heard yet, very informative. Thank you.

[vampiroangelico]

Great lesson....as a jazz-fusion guitarist myself I always look for new ways to learn and incorporate these notions constructively into my playing. Personally, I noticed that the more you adopt chord substitutions, the further away you get from the "feel" you're trying to express with a chord progression you come up with (so, not necessarily the typical 1, 6, 2, 5), BUT at the same time, being an avid Pat Metheny fan for over 40 years, I couldn't help but noticing the way he uses substitutions in different renditions of his own songs, STILL managing to maintain the overall meaning of the message or the atmosphere of the piece he's playing. I suppose my point is YES, do use chord subs, but be careful on how to use them, try to not abuse them, as I notice some jazz-fusion musicians do, just for the sake of "Hey look how good and articulate I am!".... 🙂

[milkgrapes]

This is why I love jazz. The creative potential is insane

[arvh]

FANTASTIC lesson. Thanks. Bill Evans did these sort of substitutions cleverly.. subtly and aesthetically. THank you for this lesson.

[blankfrancine]

Like "AnotherAnonymous" I am also not a guitar player, but this is a great summary of chord substitutions in only 13 minutes! You make it all sound easy!

[ericbender]

Trumpet player trying to understand what’s going on when I hear “good comping” love this video. Keep making educational content like this. I can’t wait to watch more of your videos

[thomasmartinscott]

THANKS! Don't worry about going too fast or whatever. We can back it up and watch again what we didn't get the 1st time.
GREAT lesson! Thanks, again!

[caiogracco]

Thanks! What a lovely guitar you are playing.

[alexlewis]

I dont know about total beginners, but for me, as somebody who has mostly studied classical theory and not much jazz theory, you made it make so much sense to me.

[BrandochGarage]

It's so nice to hear this and understand everything you are talking about. This all sinks in after a while. Very different from when I first started watching all these videos online.

[tomstreissguth]

Wow, that little two minutes on tritone substitutions cleared up a long-time mystery I've had listening to jazz. So THAT's what they're doing! LOL

[andyl]

Really helpful. This sums up 4-5 different concepts that help been perpetually confusing to me. Thx!!

[dominicellis]

Yo that back door dominant sound was fire. I like reharming lady bird with a circle of fifths from the bIII in the turnaround to the bVII at bar 4.

[ForProfit-x]

One of my favorite subs that I've come across is the iv subbed for the V. The new progression for example would be Dmin7-Fmin7-C∆. Playing melodic minor over the V into the I sounds so cool!

[feyyens]

I've never seen an accurate tutorial that's better than this. This is so straight to the point

[ElyJaffeMusic]

you're videos are the best and clearest on these subjects, thank you!!

[wenjacklow]

Love it!

I wish you explained why the first example works though. The way it is explained made it sound like a random substitution

[francesca]

Great lesson! Will help greatly in my effort to analyze jazz standards, which I always find important. One small point: was at first confused by your use of "substitute for".... so for example, in describing a tritone substitution, the tritone chord substitutes for the V chord, not the other way around.