Substitute Dominant Patterns

What is a Substitute Dominant chord?

Before beginning this lesson, you will need some background. You will really not get much value from this lesson without a few prerequisites:

• Music theory: The understanding of what a substitute dominant is, how it is constructed.
• Improvisation: Basic understanding of how to improvise over a substitute dominant chord.

Applied Substitute Dominant Chords

Study these patterns to learn how to apply substitute dominant chords. This progression consists of a series of chords, descending (cycle 7 motion). In between there is a substitute dominant chord, where applicable.

Example Audio

Listen to the full exercise before beginning.

E^maj7

There is no chromatic root connecting E to its lower neighbor, B^-7♭5, so there is no substitute dominant to use here.

D♯^-7♭5

D^7♯11

C♯^-7

(Optional) C♯^-11

Optionally, we can anticipate the coming chord by altering the C♯^-7 into a C♯^-11.

C^7♯11

B⁷

B♭^7♯11

A^maj7

A^7♭5

G♯^-7

G^7♭5

F♯^-7

B⁷

E^maj7

The exercise can start again at the top, or it can resolve to the E^maj7 one octave lower than shown below.

Key Exercises

• Learn, memorize, and apply the patterns.
• Create a chord progression that supports the substitute dominant chord, and play it using these voicings.