The chords in the windows to the right of the original chord represent fre-
quently used substitutions. Substitutions do not work in every case. There are
some specific and even complicated rules for substitution, but the final arbiter
of a successful chord substitution is how it sounds. We will look at three basic
rules for substitution _ chord family, inversion, and flat five.
Chord Family Substitutions
It is helpful to know the functions of the chords in order to make successful
chord substitutions. The diatonic structure consists of three families of chords:
tonic, subdominant,
and
dominant.
The tonic family expresses the tonal foundation of a key. The subdominant
family expresses movement away from the foundation. And finally, the domi-
nant family expresses harmonic tension. This tension is released with chords
that move the harmony back to the tonic. Chords belonging to the same family
can often be substituted for each other.
3.
Substitute Chord
Common Chord Substitutions
23
C
E
A
D
F
E
G
C
D
F
D
<
G
Common Chord Substitutions
Tonic
Super Tonic
Mediant
Sub-Dominant
Dominant
I
IIm
IIIm
IV
V
<
III
IVm
Vm
<
VI
<
VII
Major
Minor
6
maj7
dom
7
dom
7
6
maj7
m7
m7
m7
m7
maj7
6
6
m7
m9
B
]
7
Substitute this chord,
with this chord
Substitute this chord,
with this chord
Chord
Families
I
IIIm
VIm
IV
IIm
V
VII
O
Tonic
Mediant
Submediant
Subdominant
Super Tonic
Dominant
Leading Tone
C
Em
Am
F
Dm
G
B
O
{
{
{
Tonic
Sub-dominant
Dominant
Theoretical
Name
Example
(C Major)
Chord
Degree
