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Music Theory #2

Circle of 5ths - Dominant 7 & Tritones

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Based on 64 ratings
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Rosa Suen

Review from Chris T

Chris T

Rosa has an unique was of teaching, She structure the course in a way, it let us figure out things first before giving us answers, not spoon feeding us. No dry boring lesson , I feel I'm being taught by how & why it 'works'... and not traditionally rigid like many other course out there. Thumbs up & keep up the good work.

Circle of 5ths Level 2 - Intermediate to Advanced

This course takes musicians to apply more advanced music theory into their playing - Tritones, Tritone Chord Substitutions, Jazzy Chromatic Chord Movement, 36251 Turn Arounds.

Read more

Review from Chris T

Chris T

Rosa has an unique was of teaching, She structure the course in a way, it let us figure out things first before giving us answers, not spoon feeding us. No dry boring lesson , I feel I'm being taught by how & why it 'works'... and not traditionally rigid like many other course out there. Thumbs up & keep up the good work.

Circle of 5ths Level 2 - Intermediate to Advanced

This course takes musicians to apply more advanced music theory into their playing - Tritones, Tritone Chord Substitutions, Jazzy Chromatic Chord Movement, 36251 Turn Arounds.

It is important for all musicians, whether you play guitar, piano, ukulele, violin, harmonica, or any musical instruments to develop an intimate knowledge of the Circle of 5ths. The Circle of 5ths is a visual picture that tells us the relations between keys, scales, chords, chord progressions, tritones, tritone chord substitutions, pentatonic scales, blues scales, 7 modes of music, etc.

The Tritone chord substitution is one of the most commonly used chord substitutions in jazz. By using tritone chord substitution, you often get a beautiful chromatic bass line in the song and especially in turn arounds.

When it comes to more advanced music theory, students get confused and give up in their struggle to advance in their musicianship.

Here's the secret: Learn to use the Moving Circle of 5ths Dynamically. When you know how to move the circle around to understand Tritones and how the interval is created in the Dominant 7 chords, you will understand why professional musicians do such smooth voicing because they know how to concentrate on the 3rd & 7th tones easily.

In this Circle of 5ths Level 2 course, I will show you how to use the Circle to do Tritone Chord substitutions with Dominant 7 Chords and Minor 7 Chords. In this way, you will have many more options in your music compositions other than the normal Diatonic Chord Progression & Secondary Dominants that you learned in Circle of 5ths Level 1 Course.

When you do Tritone Chord Substitutions, you begin to learn advance music harmonic sounds, and the importance of doing smooth voicing, chromatic bass line chord movement in turn arounds that audience loves to listen to.

In this course, I will also show you when Tritone Chord Substitutions work and when they don't work. There are some rules you need to follow so that you create beautiful harmonic sounds in your piece of music, whether reharmonizing a song or in the writing of your own songs.

You will be doing a lot of assignments so that you learn to find the answer yourself. What you discover sticks with you much more than what you are told. It is easy for me to lay out all the answers and theory for you. What is unique in the course is that I will coach you along to help you think and discover the answers for yourself in a creative way.

The following topics will be covered extensively:

  1. Tritone Chord Substitution

  2. Tritone Wants to Resolve

  3. Tritones in All 12 Dominant 7 Chords

  4. Advanced Harmony: Put in Tritone Chord Substitution

  5. Two Magical Ways to Find the Tritone Chord Substitutions

  6. Tritone Chromatic Movement

  7. Song Application - Little Brown Jug - Putting in Tritone Chord Subs

  8. When To Avoid Doing Tritone Chord Substitution?

  9. Improvisation on ii7 V7 I

  10. Jazzy Turn Around - 3 6 2 5

  11. Formula for the Jazzy Turn Around 3 6 2 5 in C Key

  12. Turn Around in Eb Key - Misty

  13. Improvise on the 3625 Turn Around in all 12 Keys

  14. Tritone Chord Substitution to Minor 7 Chords

  15. Minor 7 Chord Substitutions

  16. Golden Rule of Tritone Chord Subs

  17. Applying Golden Rule to 36251 Progression

  18. Apply Tritone Chord Substitutions to

    I'll see you in class,

    Rosa

    Listen to what some of her students are experiencing in her Circle of 5ths Level 1 Course:

    Ivan Bradley

    I have been teaching myself to play the ukulele for the past few months but had been struggling to understand which chords went together and why. I was able to play by ear but it was entirely through guesswork. The circle of 5ths really helps you understand how chord progressions work and Rosa's moving version makes so much more sense than a static circle. It's only been a few days since I started the course but I feel that I have a much better understanding of music theory already. Plus Rosa's voice is so pleasant. I really look forward to listening to the videos and playing my ukulele after a long day at work.

    Melody Evans

    I play guitar, Indian flute, and dulcimer, all by ear. This class is helping me to understand music like I have always wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I love playing by ear; I have just always wanted to also understand music. It is a real time-saver for me when I can refer to my Magic Wheel instead of listening for the note or chord that fits. This has opened up a whole new aspect of music for me. Thank you, thank you.

    Rosa's Online School:

    Teaching 93 Courses on Music & Piano Courses.

    OVER 74,000 Successful students have already taken my online courses since July 2014 with many 5 Star Reviews

    About Rosa's online course at Udemy:

    • Over 74,000 very happy students already in my Udemy classes

    • See the 5 Star Reviews from VERY satisfied students

    • You get free lifetime access

    • All videos are at your finger tips to watch anytime & anywhere

    • All future extra lectures and upgrades are always free

    • Unconditional Udemy 30 day money-back guarantee and that's my personal promise to your success.

    • Join this happy family of students

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Identify the 3rd & 7th tones easily in dominant 7 chords
  • Create smooth voicing with the 3rd & 7th tone to the tonic chord
  • Understand why tritones create such tension sounds
  • Use the circle of 5ths to find tritone chord substitutions in one flash
  • Follow the golden rule of tritone chord substitutions
  • Turn a boring chord progression into interesting harmonic sounds with tritone chords
  • Spot the places where tritone chord substitutions do not work
  • Have loads of fun understanding complex music harmony
  • Apply tritone chord substitutions into their music composition
  • Apply tritone chord substitutions into little brown jug
  • Understand why tritone chord sub is not desirable in some places
  • Study the first line of auld lang syne
  • Create turn arounds in long measures
  • Create turn arounds with tritone chord subsitutions
  • Appreciate the beautiful descending sounds of chromatic chord movement
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Get an overview of the course
Overview of the Topics in the Course
Welcome to the Class - Course Syllabus
Understand that Tritone has an interval of 3 whole step
Read more

Interval of a Tritone - 3 Whole Steps apart

Tritone Intervals

C to F# - Augmented 4th

C to Gb -Diminished 5th

Tritone in V7 Chords

Assignment:

Find the Tritone Interval in G7 Chord - G B D F

What are the 2 tones?

The 2 tones of the Tritone Interval in G7:

Answer: B & F

B - 3rd tone

F - 7th tone

These 2 tones - 3 & 7 - are the most important tones in any chords, whether Major 7, Minor 7, or Dominant 7 Chords.

Tritone interval of G7

3rd Tone - B

7th Tone - F

Tritone Interval of C7

3rd Tone - E

7th Tone Bb

Tritone Interval of F7

3rd Tone: A

7th Tone: Eb

Tritone Interval of Bb7

3rd tone: D

7th tone: Ab

Tritone Interval of Eb7

3rd tone: G

7th tone: D

Tritone Interval of Ab7

3rd tone: C

7th tone: G

Tritone Interval of Db7

3rd tone: F

7th tone: Cb

Tritone Interval of F#7

3rd tone: A#

7th tone: E

Tritone Interval of B7

3rd tone: D#

7th tone: A

Tritone Interval of E7

3rd tone: G#

7th tone: D

Tritone Interval of A7

3rd tone: C#

7th tone: G

Tritone Interval of D7

3rd tone: F#

7th tone: C

V7 Chord & Tritone Chords:


G7 - G B D F

Db7 - Db F Ab Cb (B)

Dominant 7 Chord Movement & Tritone Chord Movement


Dominant 7 Chord Movement

ii7 V7 to Chord I


Tritone Chord Movement

ii7 bII7 to Chord I

Dominant 7 Chord & Tritone Chord


The importance of the 3rd tone and b7 tone.


For eg:


G7

G B D F

1 3 5 b7


Db7

D F Ab B

1 3 5 b7


3rd Tone in G becomes 7th tone in Db7

7th Tone in G becomes 3rd tone in Db7

Chord Progression when Tritone Chord Substitution is put in there:

ii7 - bII7 - I

The bII7 is a dominant seven with a Capital Roman Numeral II, and the "b" signifies that it is a b Key.

Tritone Chord Substitution

Diatonic Chord Movement - Circle of 5th Movement

Non-Diatonic Chord Movement - Chromatic Movement

Tritone Chord Substitution


This b5 Trick is easy to use if you are just playing in one key.


Follow the Secret Tip in the Video.

Tritone Chord Substitution


This Magic Circle Tip is fantastic when you are playing in different keys in song.


Follow my Magic trick.

No Brainer!


Work this out in all 12 Keys!

Tritone Chord Substitution


Follow my Magic Tip when you play in the Band!


Bring your DIY Circle with you!

Tritone Chord Substitution


There are only 6 PAIRS of Tritone Chord Subs!


You can memorize them if you wish.


Once you know the 6 Tritone Chords, you also know the other 6 Tritone Chord Subs.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores tritone chord substitutions, a technique commonly used in jazz to create chromatic bass lines and harmonic interest, which is useful for musicians interested in jazz composition
Focuses on applying advanced music theory concepts, such as tritones and jazzy chromatic chord movement, to enhance musical compositions, which is ideal for musicians seeking to add complexity to their work
Requires prior knowledge of diatonic chord progressions and secondary dominants, as covered in the Circle of 5ths Level 1 course, which may necessitate taking the first course before this one
Emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between the 3rd and 7th tones in chords, which is crucial for creating smooth voicings and harmonic sounds, and is a core skill for advanced musicians
Involves assignments that encourage students to discover answers themselves, fostering a deeper understanding of music theory concepts, which is helpful for learners who prefer active learning
Teaches how to use the Circle of 5ths to understand tritones and their role in dominant 7 chords, which is a valuable tool for musicians seeking to expand their harmonic vocabulary

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Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary

Applying music theory: tritones & dominant 7s

According to the limited feedback available, learners say this course offers a unique approach to teaching music theory, particularly focusing on Tritones and Dominant 7th chords within the Circle of Fifths framework. Students appreciate that the instructor uses methods that encourage them to figure things out themselves rather than being spoon-fed, leading to a deeper understanding of how and why concepts work. The course appears geared towards applying theory to practical playing and composition, covering topics like tritone chord substitutions and jazzy turnarounds. Reviewers suggest it helps transform potentially dry theory into engaging and applicable knowledge for musicians looking to advance beyond basic harmony.
Dynamic approach to the Circle of Fifths.
"Learn to use the Moving Circle of 5ths Dynamically."
"USE the CIrcle of 5ths to find Tritone Chord Substitutions in One Flash"
"This Magic Circle Tip is fantastic when you are playing in different keys in song."
Deep dive into advanced harmonic concepts.
"This course takes musicians to apply more advanced music theory into their playing - Tritones, Tritone Chord Substitutions, Jazzy Chromatic Chord Movement..."
"When you know how to move the circle around to understand Tritones and how the interval is created in the Dominant 7 chords, you will understand why professional musicians do such smooth voicing..."
"I learned how to easily identify the 3rd & 7th tones in Dominant 7 Chords and why they are important."
Applying theory to playing and composition.
"APPLY Tritone Chord substitutions into their music composition"
"Improvisation on ii7 V7 I"
"Learn to use the Tritone Chord Sub for your improvisation."
"I found the practical exercises using songs like Little Brown Jug really helpful."
Unique approach encourages self-discovery.
"Rosa has an unique was of teaching, She structure the course in a way, it let us figure out things first before giving us answers, not spoon feeding us."
"No dry boring lesson , I feel I'm being taught by how & why it 'works'... and not traditionally rigid like many other course out there."
"What you discover sticks with you much more than what you are told. It is easy for me to lay out all the answers... I will coach you along to help you think"
"The lessons encouraged me to explore and understand concepts deeply."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Music Theory #2: Circle of 5ths - Dominant 7 & Tritones with these activities:
Review Circle of Fifths Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of the Circle of Fifths as a foundation for grasping tritone substitutions.
Browse courses on Circle of Fifths
Show steps
  • Review the arrangement of keys in the Circle of Fifths.
  • Practice identifying major and minor keys and their relative minors/majors.
  • Review common chord progressions within the Circle of Fifths.
Read 'The Jazz Theory Book'
Deepen your understanding of jazz harmony and chord substitutions with a comprehensive guide.
View The Jazz Theory Book on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Jazz Theory Book' by Mark Levine.
  • Read the sections on chord substitutions, dominant chords, and altered dominants.
  • Analyze examples of tritone substitutions in jazz standards.
Practice Tritone Subs with Peers
Collaborate with other musicians to practice identifying and implementing tritone substitutions.
Show steps
  • Find a practice partner who is also studying music theory.
  • Take turns presenting chord progressions and identifying opportunities for tritone substitutions.
  • Provide constructive feedback to each other.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Tritone Substitution Drills
Reinforce your ability to quickly identify and apply tritone substitutions in various keys.
Show steps
  • Choose a key and write out the ii-V-I progression.
  • Identify the V chord and determine its tritone substitute.
  • Rewrite the progression with the tritone substitution.
  • Repeat this process in all 12 keys.
Study 'Voicings for Jazz Keyboard'
Learn effective voicing techniques for jazz chords, including those used in tritone substitutions.
View Frank Mantooth – Voicings for Jazz Keyboard |... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Voicings for Jazz Keyboard' by Frank Mantooth.
  • Study the sections on dominant 7th voicings and altered chords.
  • Practice applying these voicings to tritone substitutions in different keys.
Compose a Short Piece with Tritone Substitutions
Apply your knowledge of tritone substitutions by composing a short musical piece that incorporates them effectively.
Show steps
  • Choose a simple chord progression as a starting point.
  • Identify opportunities to use tritone substitutions to add harmonic interest.
  • Compose a melody that complements the altered harmonies.
  • Record or notate your composition.
Analyze Jazz Standards
Learn from experts by analyzing how they use tritone substitutions in real-world musical contexts.
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials that analyze jazz standards.
  • Focus on tutorials that explain the use of tritone substitutions.
  • Transcribe and analyze the chord progressions of several jazz standards.

Career center

Learners who complete Music Theory #2: Circle of 5ths - Dominant 7 & Tritones will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Composer
A composer creates original musical works, and a strong foundation in music theory is essential for this role. This course, focusing on advanced concepts like tritones and chord substitutions, helps a composer develop a richer harmonic palette. Understanding the Circle of 5ths and its applications, as taught in this course, enables a composer to create more complex and interesting chord progressions. The assignments that emphasize discovery could be useful to a composer's creative process.
See salaries and explore the career path for Composer
Arranger
An arranger adapts existing musical works for different instruments or ensembles, and a deep understanding of music theory is crucial. This course, covering advanced topics like tritone substitutions and chromatic chord movement, may help an arranger add depth and sophistication to their arrangements. By learning how to use the Circle of 5ths dynamically, arrangers can create smooth voicings and interesting harmonic textures. The coverage of turnarounds may be useful for enriching arrangements.
See salaries and explore the career path for Arranger
Jazz Musician
A jazz musician improvises and performs jazz music, requiring a comprehensive grasp of music theory and harmony. This course is valuable because it covers tritone chord substitutions, a staple in jazz music. The focus on smooth voicing and chromatic bass lines is particularly relevant to jazz performance. A jazz musician can use the Circle of 5ths knowledge to enhance their improvisational skills and create more interesting solos. This course may be useful to a jazz musician.
See salaries and explore the career path for Jazz Musician
Music Director
A music director oversees the musical aspects of a performance or production, often involving selecting and adapting music. This course, which delves into advanced music theory concepts, may help a music director make informed decisions about harmony and chord progressions. By gaining an intimate knowledge of the Circle of 5ths and tritone substitutions, a music director can create a more compelling and nuanced musical experience. Also, a music director leading contemporary music ensembles may be particularly interested in the course.
See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director
Video Game Composer
A video game composer creates music for video games, needing versatility and a strong command of music theory to match the game's atmosphere and narrative. This course, which explores advanced music theory concepts, helps a video game composer create unique and immersive soundscapes. The focus on tritone substitutions and chromatic chord movement is particularly relevant for creating modern and engaging music. This course may be useful to a video game composer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Composer
Film Score Composer
A film score composer creates music for films, requiring a strong understanding of music theory to evoke specific emotions and enhance storytelling. This course, covering advanced harmonic concepts like tritone substitutions and chromatic movement, helps a film score composer create richer and more complex musical textures. Understanding the Circle of 5ths dynamically can enable a film score composer to create smooth and effective transitions. This course may be useful to a film score composer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Film Score Composer
Songwriter
A songwriter crafts original songs, blending melody, harmony, and lyrics. This course should be valuable to a songwriter by providing them with advanced music theory insights to create more complex and interesting chord progressions. The focus on tritone chord substitutions can help add depth and uniqueness to their compositions. Also, learning the Circle of 5ths dynamically can enhance a songwriter's understanding of harmonic relationships. This course may be useful to a songwriter.
See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter
Studio Musician
A studio musician records music in a studio setting, needing a broad understanding of music theory to adapt to various styles and genres. This course, with its focus on advanced harmony and chord substitutions, helps a studio musician quickly learn chord voicing and create interesting harmonic textures. The emphasis on tritone substitutions may be useful in creating contemporary sounds. By understanding the Circle of 5ths, a studio musician can contribute creatively to recording sessions. This course may be useful to a studio musician.
See salaries and explore the career path for Studio Musician
Music Educator
A music educator teaches music theory and performance skills, requiring a deep understanding of musical concepts. This course, which delves into advanced topics like tritone substitutions and the Circle of 5ths, can help a music educator explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way. Understanding how to use the Circle of 5ths dynamically provides a music educator with valuable teaching tools. This course may be useful to a music educator.
See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator
Church Musician
A church musician provides music for religious services, needing a good grasp of music theory to lead congregations and enhance worship. This course, covering advanced harmonic concepts like tritone substitutions and the Circle of 5ths, may help a church musician create richer and more engaging musical arrangements. Understanding smooth voicing and chromatic bass lines, key topics in the course, can add depth to their musical offerings. This course may be useful to a church musician.
See salaries and explore the career path for Church Musician
Music Critic
A music critic analyzes and evaluates musical works, needing a strong understanding of music theory and history. This course covering advanced concepts like tritone substitutions, chromatic chord movement, and the Circle of 5ths, helps a music critic develop a deeper understanding of harmonic structures. This theoretical knowledge is important for informed and insightful critiques of musical compositions. This course may be useful to a music critic.
See salaries and explore the career path for Music Critic
Musical Theatre Performer
A musical theatre performer sings, acts, and dances in musical productions, and a solid understanding of music theory can enhance their performance. This course, which focuses on advanced concepts like tritone substitutions and chromatic chord movement, may help a musical theatre performer understand the harmonic structure of songs. By understanding the Circle of 5ths, a musical theatre performer can better interpret and perform complex musical passages. This course may be useful to a musical theatre performer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Musical Theatre Performer
DJ
A disc jockey selects and plays music for an audience, often blending different tracks and creating unique soundscapes; this course may be useful to a disc jockey. While not directly related to mixing techniques, the knowledge of music theory, especially harmonic concepts like tritone substitutions, can help a disc jockey understand the relationships between different tracks. Understanding the Circle of 5ths provides a framework for creating harmonious mixes. This course may be useful to a disc jockey.
See salaries and explore the career path for DJ
Acoustic Engineer
An acoustic engineer works with sound and vibration, often in the context of architectural design or audio equipment development. This course may be useful to an acoustic engineer by providing a deeper understanding of the harmonic and tonal aspects of music. While the course focuses on composition and arrangement, understanding concepts like tritones can inform their work related to sound design and analysis. This course may be useful to an acoustic engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Acoustic Engineer
Music Therapist
A music therapist uses music to address clients' physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. This course may be useful to a music therapist. Understanding advanced harmonic concepts may allow them to better understand the emotional impact of certain chord progressions and modulations. The course may be useful to a music therapist in their therapeutic interventions.
See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Music Theory #2: Circle of 5ths - Dominant 7 & Tritones.
Cover image
The Jazz Theory Book
Save
Comprehensive guide to jazz harmony and theory, covering topics such as chord substitutions, turnarounds, and improvisation. It provides a detailed explanation of tritone substitutions and their application in jazz music, making it highly relevant to the course content. The book is widely used by jazz musicians and educators, offering practical examples and exercises to enhance understanding.
The Jazz Theory Book
Spiral-bound
$$
Cover image
Voicings for Jazz Keyboard
Save
Focuses on practical voicings for jazz chords, including dominant 7th chords and their alterations. It is useful for understanding how to create smooth and interesting voicings when using tritone substitutions. This book valuable reference for keyboard players looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary. It adds breadth to the course by providing specific voicing techniques applicable to the concepts taught.
Frank Mantooth – Voicings for Jazz Keyboard | Piano...
Spiral-bound
$$

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Rating
4.7 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Effort
3 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Rosa Suen
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores tritone chord substitutions, a technique commonly used in jazz to create chromatic bass lines and harmonic interest, which is useful for musicians interested in jazz composition
Focuses on applying advanced music theory concepts, such as tritones and jazzy chromatic chord movement, to enhance musical compositions, which is ideal for musicians seeking to add complexity to their work
Requires prior knowledge of diatonic chord progressions and secondary dominants, as covered in the Circle of 5ths Level 1 course, which may necessitate taking the first course before this one
Emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between the 3rd and 7th tones in chords, which is crucial for creating smooth voicings and harmonic sounds, and is a core skill for advanced musicians
Involves assignments that encourage students to discover answers themselves, fostering a deeper understanding of music theory concepts, which is helpful for learners who prefer active learning
Teaches how to use the Circle of 5ths to understand tritones and their role in dominant 7 chords, which is a valuable tool for musicians seeking to expand their harmonic vocabulary
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