Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Discover the power of tritone substitution and learn how it can transform your jazz harmony and piano chord progressions.
In this lesson, Tom Donald explains what tritone substitution is about and gives a clear theoretical foundation before showing how to apply it in practice. If you've ever wondered about tritone substitution explained in a way that actually makes sense on the keyboard, this tutorial breaks it down step-by-step.
Tom first explores the theory behind the concept, showing how tritone relationships work within 7th chords and why they create such powerful harmonic movement. Once the theory is clear, he demonstrates tritone substitution voicings on the piano and how they function within common jazz harmony.
Tom demonstrates how to use tritone substitution piano techniques inside the classic 2-5-1 chord progression, one of the most important piano chord progressions in jazz. You’ll see how the substitution works musically and how it can add color, tension, and sophistication to your chords piano playing.
To make the concept truly usable, Tom also walks through tritone substitution exercises, applying the idea to a 2-5-1 chord progression in all 12 keys so you can internalize the sound and start using it in your own playing.
⚠️ Prerequisites:To get the most out of this tutorial, you should already be familiar with seventh chords and the 2-5-1 chord progression.
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VIDEO BREAKDOWN:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Some theory
05:15 2-5-1 in all 12 keys
08:02 Girl from Ipanema
—————————————————————————
👇 If you would like learn better ways to practice 2-5-1 chord progression, watch this tutorial next:
youtube.com/watch?v=zXu6X6MYgQ0&list=PLDqNslPG6e1IbTdTGk5XsSC3v8_F9kdD1&index=2
🎁 Claim your FREE gift - RESOURCES PACK - by getting in touch with us at London Contemporary School of Piano so that we can help you solve your challenges and accelerate you progress at the piano:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com
🎓 Get Your GROOVE COURSE to access all the resources you need to master piano grooves and expand your piano groove vocabulary:
lcsp.samcart.com/products/groove-mastery-everyday
🎓 Join our Flagship Course, THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN COURSE with Tom Donald:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com/the-complete-musician
🔔 If you enjoyed this piano chord tutorial on tritone substitution and would like to get more top tips on learning piano, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel right here:
youtube.com/channel/UCZWqaBf6VLuD0cSKF4cukPg?sub_confirmation=1
Credits:
Filmed by Josh Adams.
Edited by BUBI Productions & Charlie Coe.
youtu.be/sDRgD0bUqgk
#londoncontemporaryschoolofpiano #tritonesubstitution #pianotutorial
Discover the power of tritone substitution and learn how it can transform your jazz harmony and piano chord progressions.
In this lesson, Tom Donald explains what tritone substitution is about and gives a clear theoretical foundation before showing how to apply it in practice. If you've ever wondered about tritone substitution explained in a way that actually makes sense on the keyboard, this tutorial breaks it down step-by-step.
Tom first explores the theory behind the concept, showing how tritone relationships work within 7th chords and why they create such powerful harmonic movement. Once the theory is clear, he demonstrates tritone substitution voicings on the piano and how they function within common jazz harmony.
Tom demonstrates how to use tritone substitution piano techniques inside the classic 2-5-1 chord progression, one of the most important piano chord progressions in jazz. You’ll see how the substitution works musically and how it can add color, tension, and sophistication to your chords piano playing.
To make the concept truly usable, Tom also walks through tritone substitution exercises, applying the idea to a 2-5-1 chord progression in all 12 keys so you can internalize the sound and start using it in your own playing.
⚠️ Prerequisites:To get the most out of this tutorial, you should already be familiar with seventh chords and the 2-5-1 chord progression.
—————————————————————————
VIDEO BREAKDOWN:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Some theory
05:15 2-5-1 in all 12 keys
08:02 Girl from Ipanema
—————————————————————————
👇 If you would like learn better ways to practice 2-5-1 chord progression, watch this tutorial next:
youtube.com/watch?v=zXu6X6MYgQ0&list=PLDqNslPG6e1IbTdTGk5XsSC3v8_F9kdD1&index=2
🎁 Claim your FREE gift - RESOURCES PACK - by getting in touch with us at London Contemporary School of Piano so that we can help you solve your challenges and accelerate you progress at the piano:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com
🎓 Get Your GROOVE COURSE to access all the resources you need to master piano grooves and expand your piano groove vocabulary:
lcsp.samcart.com/products/groove-mastery-everyday
🎓 Join our Flagship Course, THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN COURSE with Tom Donald:
contemporaryschoolofpiano.com/the-complete-musician
🔔 If you enjoyed this piano chord tutorial on tritone substitution and would like to get more top tips on learning piano, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel right here:
youtube.com/channel/UCZWqaBf6VLuD0cSKF4cukPg?sub_confirmation=1
Credits:
Filmed by Josh Adams.
Edited by BUBI Productions & Charlie Coe.
youtu.be/sDRgD0bUqgk
#londoncontemporaryschoolofpiano #tritonesubstitution #pianotutorial
