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How To Create Unlimited
Original Chord Progressions
Using Chord Substitutions
 Technique
#3: The "Half-Step Slide" Chord Substitution
The
"half-step slide"
technique is another of the best ways to create a fresh
harmonization of a familiar melody.
Here's
how it works:
Slide
into the target chord by playing the chord 1/2 step above
or below it.
For example,
the 2nd chord in Silent Night (if we play it in the key
of C) is the G7 chord. So we play the chord 1/2 step above
G7 -- which is Ab7
-- and "slide into" G7. The next chord after that is C,
so we can play Db
7 right before C if you want to. Then the next chord --
the target chord -- is F, so 1/2 step above F is Gb7,
and we can slide into F by playing that first.
Could we slide up instead of slide down? Sure -- it just
depends on the melody note -- sometimes a slide up sounds
better with the melody, and sometimes a slide down sounds
better with the melody. We have to do some trial and error
to find out, but once we find what works, we can use it
over and over. So by doing this we have just made the song
a lot more interesting.
Get
the idea?
So
now we have learned 3 of the most powerful chord substitution
techniques known to man (or women, for that matter):
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1.
The "Into what other
chord will this melody note fit?"
technique.
2.
The "m7 down a 4th
for 7th" technique.
3.
The "half-step slide"
technique.
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We have a great course
available that goes into all this in great depth -- we've
just scratched the surface here -- so if you're interested,
be sure and take a look at "Chord
Substitutions!"
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