Violin · Level 9 · Expert

Tritone substitution on Violin

ii7–♭II7–Imaj7 in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

A tritone substitution replaces V7 with the dominant chord a tritone away. The bass then slides down by half steps into I — a signature jazz sound.

Choose a key

C majorDm7 · D♭7 · Cmaj7 · Cmaj7D♭ majorE♭m7 · D7 · D♭maj7 · D♭maj7D majorEm7 · E♭7 · Dmaj7 · Dmaj7E♭ majorFm7 · E7 · E♭maj7 · E♭maj7E majorF♯m7 · F7 · Emaj7 · Emaj7F majorGm7 · G♭7 · Fmaj7 · Fmaj7F♯ majorG♯m7 · G7 · F♯maj7 · F♯maj7G majorAm7 · A♭7 · Gmaj7 · Gmaj7A♭ majorB♭m7 · A7 · A♭maj7 · A♭maj7A majorBm7 · B♭7 · Amaj7 · Amaj7B♭ majorCm7 · B7 · B♭maj7 · B♭maj7B majorC♯m7 · C7 · Bmaj7 · Bmaj7

Listen first: C major

Dm7

D minor seventh

Notes: D · F · A · C

D openD 2A openA 2A 3
String and finger, first position

D♭7

D♭ dominant seventh

Notes: D♭ · F · A♭ · C♭

♭G 4D 2♭D 4♭A 1♭A 2
String and finger, first position

Cmaj7

C major seventh

Notes: C · E · G · B

G 3D 1D 3A 1A 2
String and finger, first position
1
Dm7
2
D♭7
3
Cmaj7
4
Cmaj7

Why it works

V7 and ♭II7 share the same tritone between their third and seventh, so either can resolve to I.

On another instrument

Tritone substitution on Guitar →Tritone substitution on Piano →Tritone substitution on Ukulele →Tritone substitution on Mandolin →Tritone substitution on Banjo →Tritone substitution on Flute →

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