This two-page PDF lesson presents the tritone ii–V substitute commonly employed in the bebop era. The handout contains common tones and half-steps between the two key centers, presenting a guide for creating smooth melodic connections when shifting between non-diatonic chords.

Miles Davis’ solo on Charlie Parker’s “Cheryl” is a classic example of how to add this substitute progression in several different parts of a twelve-bar blues (transcription forthcoming). The tritone ii–V can also be used on in arranging and composition. The guitarist Wes Montgomery wrote the substitute progression in his original compositions “Four on Six” and “West Coast Blues,” while saxophonist Joe Henderson used the device in his reharmonization of “Night and Day.”

Below is a YouTube video of the eighth note lines included in the lesson.