Tritone Substitutes - A Bass Player's Dream

This is a description and demonstration on how tritone substitute chords work. Because bass players essentially dictate the chord, it is especially important for bass players to be able to employ this concept in an easy and practical way.
George Urbaszek of Bass Lessons Online (a complete course is available via www.creativebasslessons.com) guides you through the steps. Band-in-a-Box (from www.pgmusic.com) is George's go-to backing-track/play-along software.

[@letsplayharmonica]

Hi, George! I loved your walking bass tutorials so much that I purchased the e-book version of "Fundamental Concepts for Walking Bass". It's wonderful. Before I come across with your "systematic method", I had never found any book or tutorial concerning the five differents ways of leading notes. They often approach one semitone above or below the target chord. Your five distincts ways of leading approach really opened up my mind. Thank vou very much for that and congratulations for the brilliant and wonderful job.

[@harrisonpicot1236]

Thanks, first time I have heard tritone explained so that it makes sense, not that I get it all yet, but I feel a bit closer.Thanks for posting, I will write out, that does help.

[@BassLessonsOnline]

Harrison Picot Hello Harrison I'm glad to hear you are on your way to getting closer to the tritone sub. Kind regards, George

[@wesnercaries2959]

I'm very later, I wish I saw your lesson before man you are the man that I was looking for not only for blues but for music

[@BassLessonsOnline]

Hello Wesner Thanks for your endorsement of my lessons. As they say, its never too late. Kind regards, George

[@dreadnaught90]

Thanks! Very helpful and well explained.

[@MrAdobo77]

Thanks for this, it's a really good lesson.

[@BassLessonsOnline]

Great! I'm glad you could benefit from this lesson.

[@neilbirrell727]

So does it matter what the keyboard is playing?

[@SanNjig]

God that bass is beautiful

[@BassLessonsOnline]

So true. I believe that we must first be visually attracted to an instrument before we even want to pick it up and play it.

[@JooSMusic]

Thanks a lot

[@harrybarker4593]

Hey, I got a 5 string as my first bass. And it seems that all 'How to' videos assume that you get a 4 string as your first bass. Is starting with a 5 any different? If so could you make a video explaining the basics for 5 string please?

[@BassLessonsOnline]

Hello Harry Thanks for getting in touch. If you gravitate toward the 5-string, then starting out on a 5 is the best thing you can do. (This comment is based on my experience with many students.) Starting on a 5 is easier than starting on a 4, and then making the slightly awkward change from 4 to 5. Therefore, for you there will be essentially no difference. Because most people start on 4-string bass, most tutorials are for the 4, and you won't find many beginner videos for the 5. I do have two such videos. However, they assume a little experience with bass in general. You can find samples of those two videos via my You Tube channel. (I think the lesson topic is Beginning 5-String Bass.) Bass of Luck! And please don't hesitate to get in touch again if you have any queries. George

[@Mezurashii5]

I'd say it's an advantage, because you can work in the lower registers without hutring your hand, which can aspecially happen in the beggining, when it's not powerful and adjusted to the stretches you have to do when playing low on the neck. Jazz and technical death metal bassist often choose 5-string for that reason from what I've seen.

[@Tanglangfa]

Another great lesson. Your bass needs to be much louder. When listening without headphones, the bass is completely inaudible.

[@BassLessonsOnline]

Thanks. Yes, without headphones (and on a small computer such as a laptop or phone) the bass is very much embedded in the mix. My apologies. Kind regards, George

[@Causticghoul]

What do you mean that G7 some how wants to go to C isn't that obvious or am I being an asshole?

[@stephenfoster6940]

Perhaps if you look at it in terms of the modes? In the key of C major, G7 is the related mixolydian mode. In other words, all of the notes in G7 are the same as those in the C major scale i.e. no sharps or flats. In terms of chord progressions, it's V-I so resolves strongly to the tonic chord. That could be obvious based on your listening experience (it's kind of intuitive) but there are a good reasons for that in terms of the theory involved as well.

[@ramsayfraser6516]

Can't hear you or your bass!

[@BassLessonsOnline]

Hello Ramsay Thanks for checking in. If you can't hear me, that's definitely due to your system setup. For me, the talking is clearly audible, even on a laptop with tiny speakers. To get the true, balanced sound and volume of the backing track with bass, I suggest you use headphones. Bass of Luck! George

[@ramsayfraser6516]

Sorry George, I didn't mean to offend, it was my fault, much better with headphones!

[@BassLessonsOnline]

No offense at all. Whenever I get posts indicating there may be something wrong, I first test, then respond with something that is hopefully helpful. Besides all that, I hope this tutorial was helpful. Kind regards, George

[@_richardleon]

NEAPOLITAN CHORD... EU > US