Jazz lead sheet · Advanced
Tritone Substitution Drill
Replace G7 with D♭7: the tritone substitute keeps the same guide tones but slides the bass down a half step.
- Composer
- Practice drill
- Form
- 12 bars
- Key
- C major
- Style
- Swing
- Length
- 12 bars
AC major
ii7D Dorian
subV7D♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7C Ionian
Imaj7C Ionian
ii7D Dorian
subV7D♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7C Ionian
Imaj7C Ionian
F Dorian
♭VII7B♭ Lydian ♭7
E Dorian
V7/iiA Phryg. dom.
ii7D Dorian
subV7D♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7C Ionian
ii7D Dorian
subV7D♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7C Ionian
For students
What to notice
- D♭7 is a tritone away from G7. The two chords share the guide tones F and B (spelled C♭ in D♭7).
- The bass moves D♭ → C, a half step, instead of G → C, a 5th.
- The same substitution can replace any dominant 7th, which is why it appears so often in modern harmony.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play G7 then D♭7 and hold the guide tones still to hear what the two chords share.
- Substitute D♭7 for every G7 in the drill and compare the sound.
- Improvise using D♭ Lydian dominant and resolve down a half step to C.
For teachers
Using this chart in class
- Project the chart with Play along running and loop one section while students find the guide tones.
- Choose Practice → Name the numerals for a whole-class quiz: students vote, then reveal the explanation.
- Mixed ensemble? Print the worksheet once per transposition: B♭, E♭, F and bass clef parts all line up bar for bar.
- Share a link: the key, instrument and view you choose are saved in the address bar.
Chord changes are common performance versions written out by Music Theory Lessons. No melodies or lyrics are reproduced. Names of songs and composers are used only to identify each tune.