This video is the 3rd in a series about how to create your own unique chord substitutions for most any song. By creating a chord sub, you automatically put your own spin on a tune, as your listeners are used to hearing the same chord progressions in a given song, but you surprise them with a new and different chord.

Watch this short video, then toggle down on this blog to review the first two videos in this series.

For a complete course in Chord Substitutions, please click on “Chord Substitutions”

Among the various ways to reharmonize a tune are three specific but easy methods. This is part one of a three part series, and deals with a simple question you can ask at any point in a song to come up with new and fresh chords: “Into What Other Chord Does This Note Fit?”

Watch this short video and you’ll understand:

Then come back here tomorrow and we’ll take up part two of the series.

Among the ways to reharmonize a melody is a technique I call the “half-step slide”. As you progress from one chord to another, look for a way to “slide in” to the target chord — like a runner stealing 2nd base and sliding into the bag. Watch this short video and you’ll understand:

By using chord substitutions, old hymns and gospel songs can be transformed into completely new arrangements. In this video Duane demonstrates using the song “Fairest Lord Jesus” and transforms a gospel song which originally used only 4 or 5 chords into an arrangement using many, many chords — probably 20 or so.

If you find this interesting, come on over to http://www.gospelpiano.com

The word “poly” means, of course, “many”, so polytonality in this context means “more than one tonality” — more than one chord at a given instant. There are at least three situations in which you can use polytonality to your advantage in piano playing:

1. When the melody you are playing uses a non-harmonic tone;
2. When the chord you are on is a dominant 7th;
3. When you are in a tri-tone substitution situation.

Listen and watch this short video and I think you’ll get the idea.

Minor chord substitutions are some of the most interesting and pleasant-sounding things you can do to make your songs stand out from the crowd. Listen to this short minor-chords podcast and learn how to do it yourself. (For complete instructions on chord substitutions, please go to Chord Subs.)

Enhanced Podcast [ 2:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Like any song, there are countless variations you can use on “Auld Lang Syne”, and since it is New Years Eve as I’m writing this, I thought I might share with you one way to add color to everybody’s favorite New Years Eve song:

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne.

We’ll tak’ a cup o’kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

Translated to more-or-less modern day English it reads something like this:

The Days of Yore

Should we forget our former friends

By whom we set great store?

Should we forget the friends we’ve met

And the brave days of yore?

Chorus:

The days of yore. My dear

The days of yore,

We’ll tilt the jug and drain the mug

to the brave days of yore.

Here’s a 5-minute video on a useful chord substitution technique where you “slide into” the next chord in a song from 1/2 step above or 1/2 step below: