Substitutions

Chord substitutions are a great way to add color and personality to your music.

Much like how chords of the same tonality are largely interchangeable,
chords with similar diatonic functions can be used interchangeably, ie substituted for.

Take this series of a | I VI- II- V7 | chord progression:

[ CM          | A-9        | D-11     | G13          ]
[ E-11      | A-9        | D-11     | G13          ]
[ CM9        | A-9        | D-9        | G7(b9)     ]
[ CM          | A9(s5)  | D-11      | G13          ]
[ CM          | A13        | D9         | G7(ALT)  ]
[ E7(s9)  | A13        | D7(s9)  | G13          ]
[ Bb13      | E7(s9)   | Ab13      | G13          ]
[ Bb13      | A13        | Ab13      | G13          ]
[ E7(s9)  | Eb7(s9)  | D7(s9)  | Db7(s9)   ]