How to Add Chord Substitutions: Lesson Four
Answers to Lesson Three’s Assignment on Major and minor 3rds:
D flat to F (Major 3rd)
C to E flat (minor 3rd)
G# to B (minor 3rd)
B to D# (Major 3rd)
Now that you’ve learned Major and minor 3rds…you’re ready to apply this knowledge to the scale-based triads of any Major scale.
For ease of application, I’ll use the scale-based triads of the C Major scale listed below.
Notice that the triads either have an upper case or lower case roman numeral. Upper case indicates Major chord and lower case means minor chord. All Major scales have the same chord numbers.
For example, in G Major (which has one sharp)…the I chord would still be a Major chord and the ii chord would be minor, etc.
Now for applying your knowledge of major and minor 3rds…
1. A Major chord consists of a Major 3rd plus a minor 3rd. For example: the 1st chord in the C scale (I) is a C chord (CEG). From C to E is 4 half steps and from E to G is 3 half steps.
Remember: a minor 3rd consists of 3 half steps and a Major 3rd consists of 4 half steps.
So…from C to E is a Major 3rd and E to G is a minor 3rd. A Major 3rd plus a minor 3rd = a Major chord!
2. The minor chord ingredients are just the opposite of a Major chord….a minor 3rd plus a Major 3rd = a minor chord!
(See Lesson Three for more details)
With the knowledge learned in lessons one through four….you will be able to learn some VERY EASY chord substitutions! Can’t wait for the next lesson! The fun will begin 🙂 Review lessons one through four so you’ll be ready! See links below for each lesson:
Lesson One
Lesson Two
Lesson Three
Tags: chord substitution, chord substitutions, major chord, minor chord
Wow, all these years of playing the piano and I never was told that and didn’t realize it. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge! It’s greatly appreciated.
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I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I am thankful four your music ministry. By the way, how do you get your congregation to sing new songs that are applicable to the pastor’s message?
Thanks Dorothy. My son, who is the song director will sing a verse with his wife (or by himself) before the congregation joins in by the second or third verse.
Or…we teach it to the choir during choir practice and have them sing it as a special before trying it on the congregation.