Flat Five Substitution:
Substitute a Dominant Seventh Chord with another Dominant Seventh Chord where the root is a flat fifth (diminished) apart:
Original progression: Dm7 //// G7 //// Cmaj7 ////
New progression: Dm7 //// Db7 //// Cmaj7 ////
The D Flat Dominant seventh was substituted for the G dominant seventh. The D Flat Dominant Seventh is a flat fifth interval distance from the G seventh. Also called a tritone interval. A distance of three whole steps. Tri means three, Tone in this case means three whole step. G to A, A to B, B to D flat.
Original progression: Em7 //// Dm7 //// Cmaj7 ////
New progression: Em7 //// Dm7 //// Db7/6 //// Cmaj7 ////
Original progression: Em7 //// A7 //// Dm7 //// G7 //// Cmaj7 ////
New progression: Em7 //// Eb7 //// Dm7 //// Db7 //// Cmaj7 ////
Original progression: Em7 //// A7 //// Dm7 //// G7 //// Cmaj7 ////
New progression: Em7#5 //// A7#9 //// Dm7 //// G11 //// Cmaj7 ////
Notice how the C note is used as a pedal tone throughout the cord changes.
Em7#5 = R, b3, b7, #5 = E, G, D, C
A7#9 = R, 3, b7, #9 = A, C#, G, C
Dm7 = R, b3, 5, b7 = D, F, A, C
G11 = R, b7, 9, 11 = G, F, A, C
C maj 7 = R, 3, 5, 7, R = C, E, G, B, C
Notice how the C note remains throughout each chord change.
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